Hello and thank you for visiting my profile page.
I really enjoyed taking part in Worcestershire Open Studios last August. So here I’d love to share with you something of my background and me as an artist, and in general. But first, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of a special project to support the fabulous Family Action (Registered Charity No.264713).
You can see here twelve original paintings and drawings from my Lockdown Art (2020-21 and now simply framed) which are for sale with 30% of the proceeds supporting Family Action - “An incredible organisation that works in myriad ways, from its 24/7 phone support service Family Line to its Food Clubs and mentoring schemes” says Gaby Huddart, Editorial Director of Good Housekeeping: it’s their 2024 chosen charity too and is featured in the magazine’s March 2024 issue.
Enjoy browsing! And call me (on 01684 592179) if you’d like to reserve a little piece of my Lockdown Art or need further information.
BACKGROUND
From my early childhood at a cottage called Little Croft in Warwickshire to now, back at my husband's family home, Bidders Croft in Worcestershire, I’ve lived in several places.
My earliest memories include painting 'en plein air' at little school in Henley in Arden and Christmas card competitions at a convent in Surrey, where I followed up art O level with a term of A levels before bunking off to Italy. For three months in Florence, via friends in Turin, I learnt Italian at the British Institute, and pretended to study History of Art - the start of many Italian escapes from London.
Fast forward to May 2019 and art classes with ColourWheel, including lessons in Lockdown via Zoom, which helped us all stay sane and focussed. It’s hard to pinpoint my most favourite medium now as I have, by turns, a passion for pencils, pastels and painting in acrylics, but I also enjoy the feeling of freedom charcoal, ink and biro scribbles bring: I just love the learning and connecting with others who share my commitment and enthusiasm to keep a balance in life. Through my art, I pay more attention to the present moment – ‘tis good for mind, body and spirit – and, over the past five years, I’ve created quite a body of work both in the class and in my workroom here beneath the Malvern Hills.
Wanting my own enjoyment of drawing and painting to help others somehow, I designed a charity project in Lockdown which I call ‘Postcards for Friends’ – cards made from my own artwork. My chosen charity is still Family Action (in particular, supporting their FamilyLine) which seems a good fit after the many Family Caring programmes I’ve facilitated over the years. More recently, inspired by Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, I made some ‘iconic’ greeting cards and two Christmas cards from my paintings to raise funds for St Wulstan’s Church in Little Malvern, the final resting place of our local hero Sir Edward Elgar.
These days, in between work, rest and play, I may be found sketching and painting in my studio, aka the workroom - except on Tuesdays when I’m at art class. However, my day job is our small family business which I run with Bill, from our home here in rural Worcestershire. www.thelittleleatherboxcompany.com
Although it was quite scary to be doing something so new, I was excited to take part in Worcestershire Open Studios in August 2023 and we were delighted to welcome nearly 70 visitors over the six days we chose to open.
Meanwhile, enjoy browsing the website and do call me on 01684 592179 if you’d like to reserve a little piece of my Lockdown Art or need further information.
OVER THE YEARS ...
2024
1 March – My new project supports Family Action (Registered Charity No.264713): twelve original paintings and drawings from my Lockdown Art collection are FOR SALE NOW with 30% of the proceeds going to support their FamilyLine. Call 01684 592179 to discuss/reserve.
26 February – See my 'Snowdrops' watercolour for sale at St Richard's charity shop in Upton with 100% of the sale proceeds going to support the hospice.
2023
15 November - New Christmas cards raise funds for a local church: "Snowfall and Sunset at St Wulstan's in Little Malvern" and a card I’ve called “A Partridge in a Pear Tree Fantasy”. Both these cards sell in packs of ten (price £5) so if you're looking for Christmas cards with a difference, pop along to the website here: https://www.christmascardsinaidofstwulstanschurch.com/cards
31 October - I'm delighted that all the August Art Buyers have now taken delivery of ten of my original works and three giclee prints!
September and back from Sardinia and the art class, so watch this space... or sneak a peek on Instagram @studiobc_worcs and Facebook (links at foot)
31 August - If you're wondering about your order, we'll be in touch when it's ready, very soon. Meanwhile, if you'd like to reserve a painting or a sketch, order a giclee print, or give us any feedback, please let us know by phone (01684 592179). We're here and would love to hear from you.
28 August - Whew, that's a wrap! So thank you everyone who came to see us (68 at the last count), for all the arty chat, exchanges of news and views and for loving my art enough to buy some for yourself, plus postcards for the fab FamilyLine @Family_Action
19 August - Worcestershire Open Studios begins
13 July - Red Sticker Day: my first ever painting to be reserved! (Milk Churns)
11 July - entered a new painting for the Ladybird Art for Little Heroes in aid of Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust (it even received a few votes!)
29 June - discovered several huge posters in Church Walk (between Church Street and Edith Walk, Malvern) opposite Wilko. Mine is at the far end, just before Edith Walk and the Waitrose walkway exhibition! Have you seen them yet?
16 June - breaking news: my Bright Bouquet has been accepted for the WOS Malvern poster exhibition outside Waitrose!
2022 We received 24 votes and gained 4th place in the Ledbury Take 4 Gallery ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ exhibition - Postcard of your Pooch ('Merlin's 10th Birthday')
2021 Malvern Wells Village Fete – the ColourWheel Art Exhibition tent; Save Malvern Hills College - the Postcard Protest (‘Cacti’ and ‘Hollyhocks’)
2020 – 21 Drawing on Experience: The Power of Art, from the Heart - Time to Change Worcestershire (my listening 'Hare' featured in their booklet)
2019 – 20 Designed a project to benefit the national charity Family Action’s FamilyLine - ‘Postcards for Friends’. As their lovely patron had ordered a good many of our personalised presents I felt one good turn deserved another! You can find out more at bit.ly/postcards4friends
2019
Joined the very first ColourWheel Art Class at Stanbrook Abbey and I still attend on Tuesdays, now at the Abbey Hotel in Great Malvern
1995 – 2018 We moved, after 30 years in London, back to my husband’s native Worcestershire and INPO, I became an art re-starter at Malvern School of Art, a class in Upton, and did some ‘art therapy’ in the Edgbaston Priory c.2005
1974 – 95 Still living in London – had two babies (1974-75), raised the children, did up 2 houses (an art form), fundraised for Cancer Research, divorced (1984), working too, while also training as a volunteer relationship counsellor; happily remarried in 1988; started a design and retail business, demolished and rebuilt Bill’s family home in Worcestershire – formerly the brick tent (sorry Bill) now Bidders Croft mark II
1966 – 74 Living in London working (how I wish I had a PA as good as I used to be), made time for an evening class (oil painting) at Brackenbury School in 1973, while taking breaks in Italy to catch up with friends, and of course, to admire the art
1964 – 66 Studying and working in Oxford but no time for art, just the best PA training, and earning my own keep
1964 Turin then Florence and the British Institute (Italian adventures continue, back to Sardinia this September)
1958 – 63 St Teresa’s Convent in Effingham, Surrey – remembering Christmas card competition winner, Art O level and one term of A levels including Art and History of Art + History and French
1956 – 2003 Family moved to Arrow in Warwickshire – happy holidays on the lawn sketching our old rectory
1952 – 58 First school was Hurst House, Henley in Arden – memories of painting the copper beech and cows
1947 – 56 Life began at Little Croft in Wootton Wawen – I’ve recently unearthed a vintage (1950) photo of the young artist at work, now on display at studio BC)
Just call me (on 01684 592179) if you’d like to come and see my drawings, sketches, paintings and cards, or if you’d like to reserve a little piece of my Lockdown Art or need further information.
Themes
Animals, Birds and Nature
Buildings and Street Scenes
Christmas and Devotional
Flowers, Food and Still Life
Landscapes, Seascapes and Space
People and Portraits