I've been drawing for most of my life, life drawing for over 25 years. I dabbled in painting only a couple of times until roughly 2013 when I started to paint portraits in oils. I've always been very creative, working in the fashion and textile industry for over 20 years, and instinctively knew there would be a time when I'd start to paint. I had no plans for when that would be. I figured it would just happen when the time was right.
I love to paint. The world becomes still and quiet and I get lost inside it. It's just me, the subject, colours and the paint. Whatever worries there are at the time disappear and there's a huge feeling of freedom in that.
I adore the smell and feel of oils. Painting is a very sensual experience. Skin colours in particular fascinate me. When I'm not painting I often find myself staring at people's skin, looking at the colours, shadows, curves and lines. A bit embarrassing if I get caught. If I can't paint because life is getting in the way I start to feel restless, a bit sad and my fingers feel twitchy.
Taking part in BBC One's The Big Painting Challenge was a blast. A fabulous adventure which helped me gain more confidence in my painting and 9 new artist friends. It was the key that unlocked the door and gave me permission to go through.
Painting offers up constant challenges, like looking at a subject and being able to render it with feeling as well as recording what I see. or standing in front of a sitter and recreating him or her on canvas in my own way. Now I've started I know I will always paint.
Exhibitions & Shows:
June 2015 - The Society of Women Artists, The Mall Galleries, London
April 2015 - The Bigger Picture Exhibition, Lauderdale House, Highgate, London
January 2015 - The Members' Show, Hastings Arts Forum, East Sussex
The Big Painting Challenge, BBC One - aired from February 22nd - 30h March 2015.
Heather lives and works in East Sussex.
I love to paint. The world becomes still and quiet and I get lost inside it. It's just me, the subject, colours and the paint. Whatever worries there are at the time disappear and there's a huge feeling of freedom in that.
I adore the smell and feel of oils. Painting is a very sensual experience. Skin colours in particular fascinate me. When I'm not painting I often find myself staring at people's skin, looking at the colours, shadows, curves and lines. A bit embarrassing if I get caught. If I can't paint because life is getting in the way I start to feel restless, a bit sad and my fingers feel twitchy.
Taking part in BBC One's The Big Painting Challenge was a blast. A fabulous adventure which helped me gain more confidence in my painting and 9 new artist friends. It was the key that unlocked the door and gave me permission to go through.
Painting offers up constant challenges, like looking at a subject and being able to render it with feeling as well as recording what I see. or standing in front of a sitter and recreating him or her on canvas in my own way. Now I've started I know I will always paint.
Exhibitions & Shows:
June 2015 - The Society of Women Artists, The Mall Galleries, London
April 2015 - The Bigger Picture Exhibition, Lauderdale House, Highgate, London
January 2015 - The Members' Show, Hastings Arts Forum, East Sussex
The Big Painting Challenge, BBC One - aired from February 22nd - 30h March 2015.
Heather lives and works in East Sussex.