As a fifty’s child I grew up in the diverse forests of Western Australia. I had a real connection with nature. There was a freedom and to explore and create with whatever natural materials were available.
My first forays into drawing were expressed with readily available chunks of charcoal with which I decorated the walls of the derelict tobacco kilns on our farm.
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After a hiatus while raising my family and running a business, I relished the opportunity to enrol in TAFE to study drawing, painting, art history and design.
Later, travelling in Asia and Europe, I visited the famous galleries where I immersed myself in the art of the great masters.
Retirement was when I finally had time to create my own art under the tutelage of some very fine artists at the Claremont Art school and the Tresillian Community Centre.
I am fortunate to participate in many workshops and courses by well -known local and interstate artists who are always inspiring.
My preferred medium is pastels with small forays into watercolours and oils: Pastels are a great medium for painting in the studio or plein air – as the colours are intense being pure pigment I can work fast laying colour-on-colour. Mistakes are easily wiped off and reworked .
I am a member of the Western Australian Society of Arts, The Pastel Society of WA, Perth Plein air painters and Art Matters, Cottesloe.
My greatest joy was instigating the ART Matters Group about 20 years ago. We have grown into a large group where friendship, creativity and encouragement are the driving forces. The spin-off is plenty of paintings which are sold at our annual art exhibition with most of the proceeds going to a charity chosen by the ART MATTERS members by consensus.
Congratulations Heather. Love your work which reflects your affinity with the natural world which you capture brilliantly.