I was born and raised in West London, where my artistic talents were nurtured and encouraged by my school teachers. When I was fifteen, my family and I moved to Western Australia, where the new environment further developed my passion for colour and light. After four years, we returned to London and I finished university and started a family. To make a living, I worked in the car rental industry and art became an enjoyable distraction from the stresses of working life.
Several years ago, I was suddenly taken ill with encephalitis - an inflammation of the brain - which left me unable to breathe on my own and with very little coordination. With time, I slowly relearned how to do essential things, such as breathing, talking, eating and writing. Walking is still an ongoing project. As a result, my need to create art has been a soothing balm to reality as well as a way to improve my dexterity.
We now live in North Devon, which offers plenty of inspiration with its spectacular skies and coastal waters. Oil paint is the medium I love most. I enjoy the slow drying time of oil paints, as it gives me more time to experiment with different textures. To create depth and luminosity, I often use metal leaf and layered glazes of oil paint. These techniques make my paintings interesting up close as well as from a distance, although this can be hard to replicate in photographs.
If you'd like to purchase any of my artwork, check out the
Galleries section. I'm also available for any questions or feedback - just drop me a line via
email or the
Contact me section.
Thank you for your interest,
Dawn
