Welcome to my blog!
I enjoy working in the Creative Arts as a an Artist and Illustrator, Designer and as a Writer. I also love doing Art Demonstrations and teaching from time to time! My favourite subjects to draw and paint? I love figurative artwork and painting portraits, I am passionate about my work as an animal and wildlife artist and I adore botanical art!
All my reference and source material is my own….unless I have specially been asked by a charity (e.g. a wildlife charity) to use one of their own images for a particular project. My inspiration comes from a life of travel and a love of animals and nature. I have collections of my own old and new photos, sketches and doodles, colour notes and scribbled ideas….and every now and I find I am suddenly inspired to launch into a new project!
I work with many different types of media ranging from pencil, charcoal and pastel to delicate watercolours, acrylics and oils. I can work in all sizes.…but do enjoy the challenge of a large oil painting!
Having had a change of career mid life from nursing and midwifery to ‘My Life in Art’, whilst coping with a busy family life I have experienced the fun and the challenges of trying to make a living as an artist…..and I have made many friends along the way.
My love of Fine Art and the wish to learn more about the industry led to my applying for membership of the Fine Art Trade Guild and in 2009 I was elected as a Member. In 2011, I was thrilled to be invited to sit on the national Fine Art Committee of the Guild and in 2012 was honoured to be elected as Chair of the Fine Art Committee and more recently to be elected as North West Branch Master.
I enjoy exhibiting with my friends in the Association of Animal Artists (AAA), an active Art Association that runs exhibitions, workshops, reference visits, Art Rendezvous and a en plein air painting group. I am proud to be Chair, a Trustee and a Founder Member of AAA.
I love writing and am a Full Member of the Writers Guild. It is always a great thrill to be able to combine my love of art with my writing, which is why I enjoy being a Regular Contributor (Artist/Writer) to Leisure Painter Magazine and an Art Demonstrator/ Tutor for The Artist and Leisure Painter Magazines.
My tonal study in oils of ‘Gilly’; BBC Radio Presenter John Gillmore!
2012 has been a busy year starting with my visit to the Spring Fair International 2012 to give a presentation on ‘My life in Art’. I have also worked on my video; ‘How to Draw & Paint Horses’ which is featured on Horse & Country TV in the UK & Ireland (Sky Channel 280), in the Netherlands (via cable) & on the website: http://www.horse&country.tv/episode/how-draw-&-paint-horses.
In July this year I taught a 3 day Portrait Art Workshop at BBC Radio Merseyside, supported by ‘Up for Arts’, ‘Voluntary Arts UK’ & the ‘Campaign for Drawing. Other workshops include a one day ‘Artbar’ (Derwent) workshop for Leisure Painter & The Artist Magazines and trips to teach workshops at a number of Art Clubs and Societies.
I am looking forward to some exciting challenges in 2013. I will be demonstrating at Patchings Art Festival for Derwent in June and teaching workshops at the Cumberland Pencil Museum later on that month.
If you would like to read more about what is going on please go to my bio page!
