Artform: Visual Arts and Crafts
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The Lady who Rose from the Sea
Inks, 2005
The Wonders of Marine Life
Mixed media, 2005
The Secrets of the Underworld
Acrylic, 2005
I have been interested in the English / Welsh language since at primary school and as soon as I mastered reading and writing, I wrote my first poem. I also have a passion for Arts and Crafts and have always enjoyed making things.
Up until the age of 40, I had great difficulty in expressing myself other than by the written word and indeed would hide beneath my mothers` skirts when approached to speak. Even going to the doctor I had difficulties, and indeed, rather than speak I chose to write him a note and deliver it personally!
For the past twenty five years I have been plagued with mental illness. Following a long stay in hospital in 1991 when I was referred to the Occupational Therapy Department, I was introduced to the charms of pottery. On discharge I was referred on to the `Job Club` Service for support to access activities in the community.
As clay was a passion of mine, I was supported to enrol at a pottery class at the local Community Education Centre. I `threw` myself into the activity so much that I was encouraged to consider pursuing the `Access Fine Art` course at Coleg Sir Gār. I decided to enrol on a part time basis - one day a week initially. I find the course challenging yet enjoyable.
I have chosen these three paintings for exhibition, as they take me back to my childhood.
As a family, we were very poor, and indeed the only time I had shoes on my feet was during school termtime! Although we were poor in wealth, I still consider I was highly privileged, by living only half a mile from five beaches! I learnt to swim at an early age and spent all my youthful spare time down at the beach. Even at a very young age, I witnessed the class distinction within our cloistered village. People with second homes and `posh` yachts and speedboats were only dreams of the natives, and we could only sit a distance away dreaming that maybe one day we could have a `spin` in a boat!
The paintings exhibited, are very dear to my heart as when I swam, I could not open my eyes underwater and can only imagine the sheer beauty that one missed!! There still remains a wealth of exploration beneath the sea, which one day I hope to `sea`, and I am sure holds a huge wealth of wonder and amazement of the marine life that I so treasure.
