Tell us a little about what you make?
I am an artist and I do mainly abstract watercolours and pen and ink illustrations. I also dabble in printmaking. I am a bit of a magpie in that respect – I do tend to flit from one shiny thing to another.
What inspires you and where do you find that inspiration?
I take a lot of inspiration from where I live, but I also love Japanese art and design.
Tell us about your favourite medium
I am not sure I have one. If I am doing abstracts, I would favour watercolour; illustrations either pencil or archival ink. If I buy other artist’s work, I am always drawn to prints – linocuts, dry point etchings, screen prints. I love the density of the colour, and I particularly like blind embossing.
What are your favourite and least favourite parts of being an artist or maker?
Definitely framing … least favourite part …. The rest I love. I spent over 30 years working in an office so, for me, being able to be creative each day is an absolute joy.
What does being a member of the Ceredigion Art and Craft Trail mean to you?
I enjoy the chance of meeting other artists and finding out about their new work. It can be very motivating. I also think it is important to support local creative groups.
How do you manage a work-life balance as an artist/maker?
I don’t really struggle with this if I am honest. Having worked a 9-5 job for so many years, I now work when I want to so the flexibility balances things out.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am trying to get together a series of 8 large paintings – something I have never done – my work is very small scale. It is going to be a challenge, but, to be honest, if it doesn’t work out, it is not the end of the world. To enjoy the creative process, you have to accept that not everything will be a success.
How do you know when your work is finished?
That’s a tricky question … Most of the time, I just know. Sometimes I don’t, however, and quite often the piece is ruined or certainly not enhanced by overworking. This is particularly so with the abstract watercolours. They have to be spontaneous.
What is the biggest challenge of being an artist/maker?
Thinking of new ideas and challenging oneself.
What advice would you give to new artists or makers at the start of their creative journey?
Take the first step. You don’t need fancy paper, pens or paints (although I like nothing more than buying art materials!). Grab an old envelope, a piece of card, whatever and just start to doodle or sketch. Don’t become over-obsessive about perfection. Sometimes imperfect things can be just as beautiful.
