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I am a
watercolour artist based in Scotland and I paint nature in detail.
Everything from flowers to wildlife, via pet portraits and illustration
with detours into miniature art whenever I can.
I was born in St. Ives, Cornwall, daughter of
exceptional
potter
John Struthers.
I first came to Orkney in 1986 and live with my family on the shores of Scapa
Flow - surrounded by paintings-in-waiting!
A full time artist and illustrator, I work with both
private and commercial clients around the world, specialising in flowers, animals and
scenes of country life.
After discovering miniature
art in 2007 a new chapter began, which has enabled me to balance
commissioned work with something purely for myself. I was instantly hooked,
devoting every spare moment to miniatures and continually fascinated
and challenged. The following year I began to enter juried exhibitions
and was
deeply honoured and encouraged to win several international awards,
including the prestigious Gold Memorial Bowl from the Royal Miniature
Society. I continue to exhibit regularly in the UK and USA.
I work exclusively in
watercolour, both transparent and opaque, an incredibly versatile
medium. I work from life, photographs and imagination; more often than not all
three in the same piece. The joy for me lies in the little details and my
job is a privilege and a constant learning curve - whatever the subject.
'Watercolour Artist
Diary' is my art blog
which allows me to go into more detail on my work in progress, latest
paintings and
regular news updates.
Exhibitions:
2008
Hilliard Society of
Miniaturists, UK
Seaside Gallery, USA
Parklane Gallery, USA
Royal Miniature Society, UK
Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society, USA
Including 50 full colour illustrations. Orkney is an internationally important location for birds
and this volume is the result of four years collaboration with author Time Dean, taking you on a tour
of the islands and the species you are likely to see here.
The illustrations
used in a six page chapter entitled 'Learning through detailed
sketching' are from my sketchbooks and have never been published
before.
Patricia Seligman editor.
Search Press Ltd (Quarto)
2005
A Masterclass in Drawing
and Painting Animals
Contributing artist.
Jonathan Truss & Sarah
Hoggett.
Anness Publishing - Lorenz
Books (out on 1 May 2010)
The Encyclopaedia of Watercolour Techniques (new edition)
Interview and article (Sept 09).
Click to download in PDF format
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Interview
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Article
LEISURE PAINTER MAGAZINE
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Miniature painting article and step by step feature (Oct 09)
Click to download in PDF format
:
Article
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Step by Step
The Animal World Magazine
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interviews and cover features (Nov 05 & Nov 06).
Illustration
Illustrations of dragonflies,
damselflies and butterflies were commissioned for the Orkney ID Field Guides
depicting the nine
most common species of Butterfly found here, together with the
Dragonflies and Damselflies found in the islands. This is hoped to be an ongoing project illustrating the
flora and fauna of Orkney.
These
botanical studies (below) were completed for the Vikings
Heath Project run by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory
Group and set up to raise awareness of
and preserve the maritime heath and grassland environment.
My very grateful thanks go to the
following people for their generosity in allowing me to use their
photos for reference as well - Mike and John Struthers, Mungo Montgomery, Judy
Schrader, Lesley Hartman, David Jacks and Brian Hewitt.
Also to all the other people who let me sneak up on their pets, farm
animals and other furry or feathered charges, those who have helped me
track down hard to find flowers, and last but not least to my husband for
growing such a wonderful garden full of subjects for me to paint year
after year and my kids for putting up with a mother who paints.
