In the early 80’s after a year at Epsom School of Art, studying with the late performance artist and painter Kerry Trengrove, I trained as painter at Bretton Hall College in Yorkshire, under the tutelage of Professor David Hill, the JMW Turner expert. In the early 90’s I spent a year in Hiroshima, Japan, studying the exacting art of Japanese brush painting. I now live and paint in rural South Lanarkshire.
My paintings combine an interest in anatomy, horsemanship, movement, freedom and form.
I am interested in mixing the exactitudes of drawing with the freedom and flow of paint, a combination of both abstract and figurative techniques.
Twenty fife years ago I met a shaman at Imire Rhino Reserve in Zimbabwe, where I was volunteering. He gave me two pieces of advice that transformed me overnight into a selling artist.
The advice was this – finish every artwork you start, even if it is not your best painting or drawing – finish it, resolve the problem you have set yourself, because you will learn something and it will take you forward. Commit to each painting. That is a commitment to your life!
The second – the life is in the eyes. Get the eyes right and you can do anything with the paint.
Me and the Chinese Ambassador when the pandas arrived at Edinburgh Zoo!
Painting animals has been a vehicle for combining abstract expressionism with fine art techniques. I love accurate drawing combined with free flowing paint, allowing the unexpected to happen.
A further recurring theme in my art is the sea and sky – the formless and transient.
The sea is a metaphor for everything – life, death passion, healing, energy, adventure, sexuality, connection, boundaries, the body, flow, creativity, time, the mysterious, depth ….
Black and white drawing are my way of exploring ideas largely inspired by the fields behind my house and my horses
I am interested in capturing movement, using the flow of paint to express flow. This links to my work as an Alexander Technique teacher and continued learning as a rider. I have taught the Alexander Technique for 30 years and am a member of the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (MSTAT), qualifying as a teacher in 1995 under the tuition of the late Don Burton.
I enjoy writing blogs on both art and Alexander Technique and exploring the links between the two disciplines.
Every now and then I get into daft cartooning mode…
Harris’s Haggis!
And lastly, I plant trees. My love of art and horses has led me to buying some land and planting trees. I have a lot to be grateful for, especially to everyone who has ever bought artwork from me, for without that support none of this would have happened!
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about my work or visit my studio.
Best wishes
Kirsten