History and Background
Born 1959 in Bowdon, Cheshire, I struggled through school academia due to my Dyslexia, yet excelled at art; I always knew from my early years that all I ever wanted to be was an artist. I was encouraged to study art and fulfil my dream by my art teacher at school (William Ralph Turner 1920 – 2013) but he recognised I’d have a hard slog for all the reasons below.
When it came to leaving education, I was directed away from my love of painting due to the ill-informed career advisors and regrettably also my parents, who all told me that “there’s no career in art, especially as a female…there’s even less of a chance to succeed in art in a man’s world”. Sadly, this was the attitude in the 1970s. I remember these crushing sexist words as if it was yesterday and voiced that one-day my work would be out there.
As the years went by, I would draw and paint at every opportunity; I’m principally a self-taught artist and accomplished two professions running parallel, building upon my art career alongside working in Education with students with personalised needs. I often delivered art classes, teaching workshops in my studio and in 2013 my papers were accepted at Chester University where I was invited to speak at their International Art Conference. Shortly after, I realised something had to give; I was offered voluntary redundancy so took a leap of faith to work in my studio full time and I have not looked back. Over the years, my work has been widely published: and I have exhibited solely; in addition, often with group exhibitions; I have sold to eminent clients and been recognised with awards, such as by Stockport Memorial Art Gallery by Colourfield Gallery, (twice) Poynton, Derbyshire Open Art Exhibition, (twice), plus other prestigious acknowledgments.
Ideas and Inspirations
I admit that I don’t sleep well because my creative mind becomes most active in the middle of the night when most people are sound asleep so I have a sketchpad next to my bed; in fact they are everywhere, even the glove compartment of the car in case I need to capture my ideas. I also use my camera phone to record images and although I obviously know my colour-wheel, I will often use PhotoShop to manipulate my ideas of conscious designs further before I paint. That said, occasionally my paintings can merely spontaneously evolve! So…I’m inspired by anything and everything!
Process of my Style
After preparing my boards, the way I work firstly involves manipulating chalk paints onto board with my hands to create an intriguing textured raised surface; I might also create a crackle-glaze effect at this stage and leave it all to thoroughly dry over a couple of days, after which, I will be ready to design and paint in acrylics, occasionally using pro-marker pens and perhaps some scratching into the work. There are numerous layers to my paintings as the chalk paint is very thirsty! The sizes of my paintings vary from W31cm x H46cm as a guide to as large as W22; all are painted on board. When completed the work is wax-finished; I will buff the surface to offer a tactile lustre for protection, not varnish. I prefer to leave this style of paintings unglazed when professionally framed; although ‘spacers’ are used if glazing is preferred. All paintings are signed ‘Lindi’ on the foot of the painting (no surname); further details are written on the reverse.
My love of nature, colour and texture is evident in my work, whether I paint flora and fauna, still life or if I paint large quirky birds; it really is more about creating and capturing colourful expression with my chosen techniques, inviting and hoping that the viewer will feel uplifted by what they see.
I believe that growing up with my father working in textiles/surface pattern and my background of working with individuals with impairments reflects in my work, which aims to arouse one’s senses and capture responses.
My paintings have won awards and I have a comprehensive list of exhibition experience in UK and abroad.
I admire the work of Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Salvador Dali, Pino Daeni, Jenny Saville, Alma Tadema, to name but a few…