About Me
I’m a local artist, living and working in the same area, all my life At school, art was my favourite subject and I had ambitions towards making it my career. Life intervened, as it so often does. My ambitions were never really forgotten, just put on hold.
Eventually there was a ‘now or never’ moment. Evening classes seemed to be the obvious way forward but, I later decided that an occasional class with a professional artist would suit me better. I still take the occasional class now. There is always something to learn and, it gives me a useful insight when I am, myself teaching. This is something which I would never have envisaged just a few years ago, and something which I feel privileged to be doing.
Friends suggested that I exhibit at a local show. Luckily, I met many talented people who encouraged me to do things that I would never have thought possible. I found a printer to make me some show signs. He suggested that we sell cards (www.fennpress.co.uk). Next came a web-site and at that point I had to join the modern world. A computer meant teaching myself how to use it. I’m still very far from being technically minded but here I am, updating my own website!
A determination to ‘loosen up’ gave me the opportunity to incorporate a variety of mediums into my work. I tend to concentrate on the natural world…flowers, trees, birds and butterflies. With these I find it much easier to achieve that looser style. I have, gradually developed an interest in portraiture. There are very few avenues that I haven’t explored whilst remaining, more or less, in the area of watercolour. However, these are exciting times for artists. Watercolour has changed so much over recent years. There are different mediums to give added texture, and some which allow you to use watercolour on a range of surfaces, not just paper. Then there are exciting new colours and all things glittery. Combining these with a range of mixed media is very popular at my classes and workshops. It has the advantage of being much more forgiving than pure watercolour and can help to encourage beginners to keep practising. I display and sell work at shows and exhibitions throughout the year.
I am a Trustee with the Art Ministry, a local charity using arts and crafts to engage with disadvantaged members of the community. For further information about our activities go to www.theartministry.org.uk I am a member of the Southend Art Club and the Essex Craft Guild. Although I have yet to join the growing numbers of online art tutors, it is, of course, case of never say never. During the pandemic the internet was an invaluable tool for so many and encouraged people to try new things whilst they had the time. Life now seems to be full of amazing new opportunities which I could never have dreamt of.
