Magazine Cover
I’m delighted to have one of my painting “The beginning of…” on the front cover of the June issue of The Ponty Mag. Not only that but I’ve got an interview inside the magazine.
What started you off in art?
My family although not artist, appreciated art. We’d visit art galleries in the UK and Europe. We also had a family friend “Uncle Wilf” who was an artist and I’d visit him for lessons from an early age.
Who are the people who have influenced you?
My Uncle Wilf was a big influence on my art, I wasn’t allowed brushes only oil paints with pallet knives, hence my love of texture you’ll see in all my paintings. He also bought my mum flowers to plant in the garden. Hence my deep love of painting flowers! He taught me colours. The sky was never just blue, and the grass was never just green but comprised of many subtle colours. Another influence was one of my school teachers. She was a Catholic Nun but always started an art lesson with Buddhist inspired meditation. We also had to stare at an object for 15 minutes imagine the object was talking back to us before we had permission to paint or draw it. She was considered crazy by my peers, but I absolutely loved her. She used to give me extra art classes and recognised something in me when other teachers didn’t. I wasn’t surprised during my schooling, she ran away from the nunnery to be with her boyfriend!
Other artists that influenced me are the impressionists their spirit of independence and rebellion.
What are the places that have influenced you?
Nature everywhere. From under the orchard trees in the back garden as a child to majestic mountain and lakes in Canada. Even a little weed growing through the pavement in a big city, the birds singing, insects, just anything to do with nature! It causes my heart to sing and creates passion in my soul to paint!
Tell us about your studio.
My studio is in the garden and I love it! It’s plenty of windows to let natural light in and for me to watch the butterflies. It comprises of three rooms, one for painting, one is for packing. I sell a lot of painting around the world and have a large space to pack and one is storage for large cardboard sheets and huge rolls of bubble wrap.
What are you working on at the moment?
Today I’m finishing of something different a Peacock bird. I love texture and I’ve sculptured the birds head out of the canvas with paint! By the time you read this It will be on my website.
Do you paint pictures for individual people?
I’m very lucky to always have commissions on the go. They can be more of a challenge, but I find them very rewarding. It’s a way I grow as an artist, painting something I might not have thought about doing before.
How can Arts in the Tawe Valley help artists like yourself?
I enjoy being part of an art-based community group. Arts in the Tawe has allowed me to meet lots of new people, we’ve many amazing artists here in the Swansea Valley. Together we get our voice heard and great things happen. For example, being given the Oriel Lliw gallery in the Pontardawe Art centre. I highly recommend joining this art-based community group.
What advice would you pass on to someone starting to paint?
Experiment! Have lots of fun and do something every day. Even if it’s just organising your paints. Priming a canvas, a quick sketch. Forming a daily habit, no matter how big or small will build up.
And anything else you want to say.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to take part in this interview Thank you very much Arts in the Tawe Valley
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