In the early days my career as an artist happened more by chance than any specific planning on my part. I had studied Art/ Art History as one of my “A” Levels and after leaving school continued to do the occasional architectural landscape in charcoal. In my early twenties, my parents gave me a wonderful box of 72 Faber Castell pastels, this inspired me to take my art more seriously and in 1988, whilst on maternity leave, I sold my first painting in The Great Sheffield Art Show.I had always planned to return to my career as a State Registered Physiotherapist after having the children but bit by bit I became more involved in the art and the flexibility that working from home gave. At this time I was also very privileged to be encouraged by a friend and her husband who bought quite a number of my early paintings and made me believe that I had a saleable product. It reminded me of the essential role of “patrons” down the ages.
At this time I was continuing with architectural landscapes (have you ever noticed how many statues there are on the roof of Chatsworth House?) and also doing large flower paintings in pastel. The move into animals came about several years later when I discovered a lovely photograph of a fox in a Readers Digest publication and decided to have a go at it. It worked out incredibly well – even though I did it on such a scrap of paper that I’ve never been able to mount it up to its best advantage. If it hadn’t turned out to my satisfaction I doubt I would have ever tried another animal and certainly wouldn’t be taking part in Open Up now!
I still enjoy landscapes – in fact I’m trying a few seascapes at the moment after selling three pictures of Flamborough Head. They give me a bit of relaxation after a run of animal paintings because I can ad lib and it doesn’t have to be correct to the nearest millimetre! I still do the occasional flower painting when I feel the need to exchange my usual browns and greens for something more flamboyant.
If you would like to share something on this blog why not Email me and I will endeavour to post some of the material received and make it more interactive.
