Online Art Gallery - Sheffield, South Yorkshire & Derbyshire Artists
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ARTISTS Peggy Fearn |
Sheila Gill - Watercolourist
Watercolour is a very popular medium, but because
so many amateur painters used it in the latter half of the 19th
century we tend to conjure up a mental picture of genteel ladies
sitting at summer easels painting timid and delicate Water Colour
landscapes. An impression forms of an occupation similar to that
of flower arranging.
However, artists like Sheila Gill of Newbold, Chesterfield, regard it completely differently, exploiting watercolour in its many forms, fascinated by its possibilities and highly expert in her craft. She produces works of a startling luminosity, with the freshness and colour that we tend to associate with oil paints.
In 1999 Sheila won the premier award in ITV's sadly missed Watercolour Challenge. She now works as a full-time painter, her work has earned her a number of 'highly commended' awards, and she has become a member of the Society of Floral Painters.
Flowers as a subject, though, have been joined by landscapes and animals.
"I've always loved gardening," explains Sheila, "and flower-painting was a natural extension of this passion. But the beauty of the Derbyshire landscape, particularly the White Peak, begs to be painted, and I spend a lot of time working outdoors.
"I'm inordinately fond of Venice, and I've worked there a couple of times. As for animals, I love cats. Unfortunately, my son's allergic to them, so I use next door's resident feline Barney as a model."
 Marmalade Kitten |
 Mummys Boy |
 Chatsworth House |
 Stanage Edge |
 From Kirby Edge |
 In The Pink No 2 |
 Over Easy |
 Millstones Stanage Edge |