Profile
I have been working as an artist since 1987. I began when my children were very young when I brought down
my school oil painting set from the loft one relatively quiet evening and began to paint. I dabbled in the evenings,
copying photographs or working from real life.
As I was enjoying my new hobby, a friend introduced me to my local art group based at the Oast Theatre in
Tonbridge, Kent. Here I discovered the great camaraderie of artists and benefited from their encouragement and
advice. I went on to complete several evening classes in various
media and also joined the Tonbridge Art Society. It is difficult to
emphasise enough the way the two Art groups changed the direction of my life. I am deeply
indebted to all my old friends there.
In 1988 I was about to begin an Open University Course when I visited the watercolour and
pastel painter, Barry Watkins, at his home in Stogumber. I was so impressed by his beautiful
work that I decided to complete a course with Barry instead of the Open University, followed
by a second course in 1990. It's a decision I have never regretted. It was with Barry that I
discovered the magic of watercolour; the sable brush loaded with pigment and water, the
movement of colour as the brush travels across the rough surface of the paper and the way
the pigment settles to create one beautiful statement. It was at this point that I realised I had
to take this art form to heart.
During the ensuing years, many fellow artists asked if I had considered etching, as most of my
watercolours begin with a considerable amount of pen work. Indeed drawing and sketching is my first
love and so I investigated the idea of etching. I was fortunate to study with the etcher and watercolour
artist, Michael Chaplin at Maidstone College. Once more I found I was inspired by exactly the right tutor
and I pursued the art of etching with enthusiasm, buying an old press from a well known etcher in the
West Country.
I am very happy in my work which is, hopefully, developing and
evolving all the time. With all my watercolours and sometimes my
etchings I work on site, mostly in the beautiful countryside of Kent and
Sussex. I love being out of doors and I can be seen standing at my
easel or sitting working in the car in most weathers.
The etching mostly takes place in my studio and workshop at home. It
offers me the temptation to produce some very different work. The
unpredictable action of the acid, the beauty of the copper plate, the
excitement of pulling the first proof through the press, all these elements add to the adventure that is
etching.
All in all, I appreciate the joy of being an artist; the environment, the peace, the excitement of creativity as
well as the insecurities and above all the great variety of people I have met, worked with or worked for.
Rosemary
Profile
I have been working as an
artist since 1987. I began
when my children were very
young when I brought down
my school oil painting set
from the loft one relatively
quiet evening and began to
paint. I dabbled in the evenings, copying
photographs or working from real life.
As I was enjoying my new hobby, a friend
introduced me to my local art group based at the
Oast Theatre in Tonbridge, Kent. Here I discovered
the great camaraderie of artists and benefited from
their encouragement and advice. I went on to
complete several evening classes in various media
and also joined the Tonbridge Art Society. It is
difficult to emphasise enough the way the two Art
groups changed the direction of my life. I am
deeply indebted to all my old friends there.
In 1988 I was about to begin an Open University
Course when I visited the watercolour and pastel
painter, Barry Watkins, at his home in Stogumber. I
was so impressed by his beautiful work that I
decided to complete a course with Barry instead of
the Open University, followed by a second course
in 1990. It's a decision I have never regretted. It
was with Barry that I discovered the magic of
watercolour; the sable
brush loaded with
pigment and water, the
movement of colour as
the brush travels
across the rough
surface of the paper
and the way the
pigment settles to create one beautiful statement.
It was at this point that I realised I had to take this
art form to heart.
During the ensuing years, many fellow artists
asked if I had considered etching, as most of my
watercolours begin with a considerable amount of
pen work. Indeed drawing and sketching is my first
love and so I investigated the idea of etching. I was
fortunate to study with the etcher and watercolour
artist, Michael Chaplin at Maidstone College. Once
more I found I was inspired by exactly the right
tutor and I pursued the art of etching with
enthusiasm, buying an old press from a well known
etcher in the West Country.
I am very happy in my work which is, hopefully,
developing and evolving all the time. With all my
watercolours and sometimes my etchings I work
on site, mostly in the beautiful countryside of Kent
and Sussex. I love being out of doors and I can be
seen standing at my easel or sitting working in the
car in most weathers.
The etching mostly takes place in my studio and
workshop at home. It offers me the temptation to
produce some very different work. The
unpredictable action of the acid, the beauty of the
copper plate, the excitement of pulling the first
proof through the press, all these elements add to
the adventure that is etching.
All in all, I appreciate the joy of being an artist; the
environment, the peace, the excitement of
creativity as well as the insecurities and above all
the great variety of people I have met, worked with
or worked for.
Rosemary
