About - News - Exhibitions
I grew up in Manchester and spent some of my childhood in rural Herefordshire and Shropshire. Painting and drawing was a significant part of my childhood from as long as I can remember.
In my 20’s I moved away from Manchester and lived in Aberdeenshire for many years, returning to Manchester in my late 30’s.
Having experienced such a contrast of urban and rural life has given me an appreciation of different landscapes. I became particularly interested in architecture on my return to Manchester, as I was fascinated with the contrast in materials and styles - the hard sparkling granite of Aberdeen against the soft warm terracotta of Manchester brick.
The changing Manchester Skyline caught my eye every time I visited from Scotland. But having spent time away from Aberdeen, has now given me a nostalgia for the gothic architecture of the Granite city.
Rural Landscapes have been my recent focus, and have given me space to take a break from my urban surroundings. Having lived in an isolated part of rural Scotland, I miss the connection to the seasons and nature that this gave me. My latest paintings and drawings of rural landscapes enable me to reconnect to the landscape without enduring the harsh elements of northern Scotland!
Open space, big skies, mountains, trees and Lakes are fuel for my work. I tend to paint with intense colours mainly in acrylic. My style sometimes incorporates sharp lines and block colours which I choose as an amalgamation of the unique hues which I see in the landscape. I have found that many of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes have their own unique colour palette, which I try to break down and relay back with my paintings.
My drawings give me a way to observe and create artworks differently. With a monochrome palette I work in conté pencil and pen, picking out the linear qualities and tonal variations of landscapes. Observing light, sun, shadows, haze and reflections - often rock formations, mountains and trees.
In my work I love to visit my favourite places around the UK, In particular the the Scottish Highlands where I enjoy spending some of my time - (it truly is a stunning part of the world!) The Lake District, North Wales and the Peak District are also favourite destinations for my landscape inspiration.
Thankyou for viewing my artwork
Sue
THE ROYAL SCOTTISH SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATERCOLOUR 143rd ANNUAL EXHIBITION 2024
Really pleased to have my little painting of Footdee Aberdeen, included in the RSW open exhibition, at the Royal Academy in Edinburgh. The exhibition was held during January - February 2024
THE HOLLYBUSH PAINTING PRIZE 2021
This year I was lucky enough to be shortlisted for the Hollybush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, with my painting of China Lane Manchester. Myself and 22 other artists got through to the final.
The prize has been created to help support and promote female artists in a field where women are still underrepresented. You can see the finalists work and the main prize winners here.