Earth, Hare, Fur & Water
This exhibition is a collaboration of 4 local artists, all with their own unique style and story….
Sandi Mower
Sandi’s eye-catching watercolour paintings certainly bring a bit of colour to the exhibition. Capturing movement and spirit, Sandi paints British wildlife in a loose style with a bright palette. As a keen bird watcher based in Somerset, she takes inspiration from the local landscape but also loves to paint fun and funky creatures from faraway lands!
Sandi works on her art full time in her picturesque cottage surrounded by inspiration, with her husband Tom & two loving pooches Brochan & Fearn to keep her in check!
Having worked as an artist since the early 80’s, Sandi’s career began in graphics & illustration, moving on to sculptural work & mastering the art of woodcarving. Always looking for new challenges, she developed skills in faux marble finishes and worked in interior design for 15 years.
Watercolours are a relatively new medium to Sandi but one she took to very quickly. Her original paintings sell both at exhibitions and online along with a range of giclee prints, greetings cards and gifts, Sandi is also in high demand for commissions, particularly pet portraits, all done in watercolour with Sandi’s unique style. You can find Sandi at various shows and events across the South of England. To see more of Sandi’s work, find out about commissions and see where she’ll be exhibiting next, take a look at her website www.gekkoart.uk
or contact her on 07870586187 sandimower@hotmail.co.uk
Mark Page
Early in Mark’s career he was lucky enough to exhibit and undertake commissions for pencil portraits in Harrods of London, soon after setting up his own commercial design studio. Whilst concentrating on design and print for numerous local and national businesses for most of his career, his love of drawing and sketching has always been his true passion. So after 30years with a successful design studio he is now concentrating on using his talents with graphite, charcoal and ink to produce highly detailed sketches, drawings and coloured illustrations.
Although Mark is drawn to the Dorset countryside, the Purbecks in particular have produced many of his recent works, the demand for the ‘Hares’ collection’ has continued apace. Mark’s combination of mixed, mono media produces a free and spontaneous style of Hare sketch, from the Mad Hatters and the pure crazy Hares, to the natural grace and guile of the captured Hare. Each has their own quirky title giving their own unique appeal.
Many of the graphite images are now available as coloured versions too, using a combination of pencil and coloured inks, many of these are individually hand painted making each a unique interpretation.
Many of Marks sketches and drawings are available in limited edition Giclee prints, limited to a max. of 100. Mounted and framed they make desirable gifts to adorn any wall. The Originals are also for sale where available.
Oil painting has been another passion and whilst living and working abroad in the Cote d’Azur and Monaco, Mark had the opportunity to develop an abstract style which is still being evolved in more recent studies of the Purbecks.
Popular Drink & Draw sessions at Purbeck Artisan Yard enable individuals to learn and become proficient in all forms of sketching and drawing. Day classes are available soon and private tuition also, enquire for details. This summer there is the opportunity for individuals and couples to spend a week in the beautiful Lot and Garonne regions of France drawing the local scenery on an all inclusive holiday in luxury accommodation. Please contact Mark on 07977 555109 or email: crossfire911c2@googlemail.com
Mark welcomes commissions for both Portraits, Pets and now becoming very popular, homes. The charm of rustic cottages as well as contemporary abodes lends both styles to the use of graphite and ink.
Mark’s work can be seen at the Purbeck Artisan Yard in Wareham, Seasons Green in Corfe and at local Art and artisan shows around the county.
Mark can be contacted on e-mail: crossfire911c2@googlemail.com
or 07977 555109 web: markpageartworks.com
Michelle Clements-Davies
Michelle works from her beautiful cottage nestled in the woods in Dorset, surrounded by her family and menagerie of animals. Michelle produces whimsical driftwood harbours inspired by the local coastline using found objects, her work is sold across the County in various galleries and shops.
Michelle also runs workshops in Dorset for individuals to create their very own harbours which have proved extremely popular and often book up quickly!
As well as the 3D side of things Michelle has also been working on another side to her art, she creates stunning, almost abstract, Pollockesque style paintings with miniature figures, also inspired by the local landscape, full of energy and beautifully finished in stunning frames.
Michelle exhibits regularly at various shows and for the first time this year she’ll be opening her home to visitors during Dorset Art Weeks, so you can see first-hand how she creates her beautiful work.
You can find out more about Michelle, her artwork and her workshops on Facebook just search for @harbourwooddesign or call 07843259594
Lucy Tidbury
Living near Wareham surrounded by stunning scenery of the Purbeck Isles in Dorset, Lucy has no end of inspiration. Art is her passion and something she feels lucky enough to be able to do full time. Lucy studied a Diploma in Fine Art at the Bournemouth Arts Institute and went on to do a BA Degree in Fine Art at the University of Chichester, graduating in 2007. She has been working as an artist alongside other jobs until taking the leap to become a full-time artist in 2014.
Lucy exhibits her work at various shows around the county and is always working on new items and designs in her gallery/studio in Swanage. Lucy opened the Gallery almost a year ago and it has gone from strength to strength, you can often see Lucy at work either painting a new moo to add to the series or working on a commission.
The Moo range is what Lucy has become most known for, bringing the characters out of the cows seen around the local landscape. Lucy used to just paint animals but it was in 2015 when she joined Purbeck Art Weeks that she wanted to make her paintings relevant to the local area so combined the local landmarks with its curious local residents and the Moo Selfies were born. As well as original paintings, Lucy sells a range of prints, greetings cards, kitchenware and gifts featuring her designs.
It’s not just about the cows, Lucy still continues to paint various other animals including alpaca’s, sheep, Donkeys, dogs, cats, horses and even camels. She also just loves dogs, regularly commissioned to do pet portraits, Ned, Lucy’s Sprocker Spaniel who she adopted from Margaret Green Animal Rescue is often by her side in the gallery, when she’s not painting she’s usually walking around the Purbeck Hills with Ned.
All Lucy’s work can be seen on her website or you can visit Lucy in her shop or at various shows and exhibitions around the country. To find out more just head to the website www.lucysfarm.co.uk or call 0772360385, email lucytidbury@hotmail.co.uk