About Me
Thanks for staying this far!
A word about myself:
I've been drawing and painting for most of my life - all I ever really wanted to do. As a mature student, I did a Foundation course at Brighton Polytechnic in 1984-5, and gained a BA Hons. at West Surrey College of Art & Design in 1989. How old is a mature student? I was 38 when I entered college, and 42 when I left - something of a culture shock - my fellow students were the same age as my kids!
People often ask what my favourite medium is - I love pastel for its direct spontaneity - it stays where you put it...I also work in watercolour for its wonderful fluid qualities - ink combines well with watercolour too. I use coloured pencil and charcoal, as well as plain graphite pencil.
I always work directly from the subject as I find working from photographs lacks the emotional response to a live subject...I do the basis of the painting in one sitting if possible, finishing it at home from memory and imagination. I place the painting where I can see it and make changes quickly - this might be in the middle of preparing dinner!
I love landscape but not conventional "views" -I'd rather focus on small corners such as old fences or buildings - this is probably why I also love painting gardens, preferring the intimacy of walls, pots and paths to great vistas. I also love plants and flowers, and these form many of my subjects.
My painting is fairly figurative, but I like to allow the medium to behave the way it will - flowing or overlaying colours perhaps - and this may bring abstract elements into the work.
Some of my pieces are influenced by the Cubists, (Picasso and Braque - early 20th Century), and I greatly admire Lyonel Feininger who worked in a slightly later period, using extended forms and subtle layers of colour. I find that manufactured subjects such as boats, and other everyday objects, lend themselves well to this approach.
I have been teaching Adult Education classes for about 12 years. I teach people to draw from direct observation, and find that they can actually do far more than they think they can! I greatly enjoy seeing my students making progress and gaining confidence.
I daresay you're wondering other things, such as if I'm married (I am), if I have a family (I have a husband, two adult children and five grandchildren.) I live in East Sussex - you will see the local landscape in my paintings.
As well as painting, I love photography, drama, singing, gardening, reading, browsing the internet - and doing absolutely nothing!
Contact me on:
+44(0)1273 517437
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