My journey so far
Biography of an artist
When I was in my 20s, I use to love seeing artists, at work, in Place du Tertre in Montmartre and going to the museums to see the great masters paintings in Paris and Lyon (the town I come from), i was a student nurse then…I aslo started at that stage to initiate myself to art work with a friend of mine who was becoming a professional artist.
I met my husband during my nursing training and moved to UK a year , after beeing qualified as a registered Nurse. My career soon took off and I also became a mum with 3 children, one of whom is autistic. The consequence of this, was zero time for art.
However, 10 years ago, I picked my courage and enrolled in an artist group, run by a qualified teacher, called Jessica Shaw. On the first day, I felt like I was the new kid at school 😂, wondering what the devil stung me to give it a go at painting.
I could only attend sporadically as my time was divided between France and England and families commitments in both side.
I think it was good to learn the basics with that group, which was as much about the social side of being with other artists. It reached a point where I felt that I was learning more by myself, so I stop going and started to use Youtube instead, to see how other artists were approaching their work. I felt less frustrated by doing this and happier with my progress.
11/ 2020 : i joined the Dorset 2020 art society and started to exhibit my art work with them, for the first time. I also joined the Southern Nature Art group and exhibited with them to.
2021: I joined “ the Fareham Art Group “ and the “ Bursledon Art Society “ in the local areas and exhibited my artwork with them.
2021: I started to enter competition and I received a certificate of mérite from the Luxembourg art society.
May 2022: I was accepted by the Hampshire cultural society, to produce my first solo exhibition at the Allen gallery in Alton.
Dec 2022: I received another certificate of merite from the Luxembourg art Society.
2023: My art work has been accepted to be exhibited in the Gosport museum in Hampshire.
I also joined the Warsash Art Group.
I have extended my work since leaving the art group, to all sorts of topics. I enrolled on a course for portrait painting, something I always wanted to do, but was scared to attempt. I completed my first portrait which I was thrilled with, as Mike Skidmore, my teacher gave me the best compliments and encouragements I could hope for. He believed in me and at times when one gets down, it was the best therapy to spring back to confidence.
Having started painting properly about 8 years ago I am now completely hooked to it, despite the frustrations and bad days, when everything gets ruined. Renoir said “I have so much to learn”, well I just have to join the club and keep on learning.
I only came to terms with selling my paintings, 3 years ago, as before I felt that I was selling my babies. I have given away a large amount to friends and family.
