Welcome to my website.

My name is Rosemary and I live in the lovely village of Robertsbridge in East Sussex. For over 20 years I worked around my previous homes in the areas of Tonbridge and East Peckham in Kent. For many years I was privileged to work at the National Trust property of Ightham Mote. I have painted in private historic buildings and old farmyards and my subjects include landscapes, magnificent trees, derelict buildings, old machinery and the debris of country life. I am also happy to accept commissions.

The joy of painting for me is being with the subject, working on site, absorbing the shapes, smells and colours and observing the changing light and shade. I begin my work with a rough sketch in pencil and then I pick up my pen and become engrossed in the subject and the lighting. The fineness of the lines allows me to scribble in great detail and at this stage the picture could stand alone in black and white as illustrated here. This process can take many hours and it is after this that I add the watercolour. My paper is a heavyweight rough Arches which gives the paint its movement and texture. Although I include much detail in my paintings, it is freely expressed and not measured or photographic.

My work as an etcher is very different. Please see The Etching Technique for an explanation of the process. The subjects are similar to those I use in my paintings, but simplified to suit the etching medium. It is in my studio and workshop that I produce the copper plates, bathing them in acid and printing the etchings on the press. A limited edition of 25 to 30 etchings from each plate are normally produced. I enjoy experimenting with colour in the etchings. However, this is always achieved by applying coloured ink to the plate before it goes into the press and is not painted on afterwards. For me the attraction of an etching is its simple beauty born from a long and complicated process.