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"Becoming
an artist was a gradual process, at GCSE level I knew where I wanted
to go within art namely towards portraiture. This was due to my
parents and teachers encouragement so I followed through with A
level and then an art foundation in Worcester which lead towards
a BA Fine Art degree at Cheltenham. Ìý
"Whilst
at Cheltenham, as all students find, I needed to top up my grant
and was lucky enough to receive some animal portrait commissions.
ÌýThis resulted in a ready made business when I left college and
returned to begin my career in Herefordshire.
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| 'Charlie'
by Lisel Walker |
"I
have done portraits of people, houses and animals within Herefordshire
but perhaps most notably of all would be the ink drawing I did of
Stretton Sugwas Church (in exhibition), it was when I did this that
I first met Jimmy and his family who are incredible supporters of
my work.
"One
of my people portraits is an oil of Rev. Jimmy Morrison (in exhibition)
in his church of Burghill. ÌýI aspire to be the artist who is commissioned
to paint the portrait of the next Bishop of Hereford!
"At
present I am working on a scene of the South Herefordshire Hunt
meeting at The Mynd. This is an oil which is being developed through
drawings and has not yet found its final form. ÌýI had hoped to have
it ready for the present exhibition, Ìýhowever, painting doesn't
always work first time, things have to move on the canvas until
you find a comfortable composition.
"I
would advise others that to keep exhibiting is the way forward,
this keeps you in touch with the public and gives a focus at regular
intervals during the year. ÌýAnother tip would be to have interests
which take you out of the studio to release tensions which may otherwise
cause a block. Ìý
"The
support of those around you is probably the most important aspect
of all."
The
exhibition is currently running at the Hereford Art Gallery and
will be running until 22nd March 2003.
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