Artist Statement:
I have been a professional illustrator for over twenty years painting still life, flowers and animals in a detailed colourful style using watercolours. I have had over 150 images reproduced as stationary, calendars and greeting cards for many well known publishers and hold a diploma with distinction in Botanical Illustration. I have had three one woman exhibitions at Norwich Cathedral, Norwich Assembly House and The Gallery, Wymondham.
Over the last few years I have moved towards figurative works in oils, acrylics and pastels using more impressionistic techniques. I am particularly inspired by the natural world and love travelling and walking in the countryside. I enjoy painting on location, outdoors which allows me to soak up the atmosphere of a place and this helps when I get home and paint larger more complex works from the same location. As quite a solitary person, my landscape tend to be void of too much human reference instead I like to capture the raw essence of the natural world sometimes inhabiting my paintings with native wildlife. I am always striving to capture the light and beauty that moved me to paint my subject.
I have recently been working on a series of garden and water lily paintings inspired by my recent visits to Monet's Garden at Giverny. Monet's water lily garden has had a profound effect on my work and I have been obsessively trying to capture it's tranquil beauty and colour in paint.
I have been especially influenced by such artists as John Waterhouse, Claude Monet, Mary Cassatt and Erin Hanson because I admire their use of light and colour and their ability to capture the mood and atmosphere in a scene.
Education:
I studied a two year diploma course in botanical illustration and graduated with distinction from Society of Botanical Artists.
Awards & Distinctions:
2020 - Portraits from the Precipice! Overall Winner.
2015 - Nurseryman's Award presented by Adrian Bloom for " Roadside Verge"
Awarded at Iceni Botanical Artists Annual botanical art exhibition
2015 - SAA Artist of the Year - Best Professional within Flowers or Gardens for 'Rosa Eglantine '
2000 - First Place in The Lady Magazine's watercolour competition.
1999 - SAA Artist of the Year, Highly Commended for 'Diane's Ballet Shoes.
Exhibitions:
2016 - Iceni Botanical Artists Exhibition, Blickling Hall Gallery, National Trust, Norfolk, UK.
2015 - Iceni Annual Botanical Exhibition, Becketts Chapel, Wymondham Norfolk, UK.
2015 - SAA All About Art, Islington Business Centre, London, UK.
2015 - Iceni Botanical Artist Exhibition, Clare Hall, Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.
2001 - 2014 - NWAG Exhibition, Banham Zoo Gallery, Norfolk, UK.
2004 - 2013 - TWASI Exhibition, Nature in Art Museum, Gloucestershire, UK.
2007 - 2012 - Annual National Exhibition of Wildlife Art, Liverpool, UK
2005 - One Woman Exhibition, The Assembly House, Norwich, UK
2002 - One Woman Exhibition, The Gallery, Wymondham.
2000 - One Woman Exhibition, Norwich Cathedral, Norwich, UK.
Artistic Influences:
Mary Cassatt, Claude Monet, John William Waterhouse, Erin Hanson
Artist Tags:
impressionistic, monet's garden, wildlife, landscape, flowers, realism
