PARROT VASE WITH FLOWERS (2009) Painting by Bernice Grundy

Bernice Grundy was born in Bolton, Lancashire and educated at a Grammar School there. This included very little art education; one term aged 11 years and one term as part of the general studies programme at 6th form level when she was introduced to the French Impressionists. She went to Essex University where she obtained an honours degree in chemistry followed by a PGCE from London University.

At this time London provided an opportunity to visit art galleries and magazine pages of art works decorated the walls of her room. This interest was pursued when she started teaching in Southend where Sunday walks to the Beecroft Gallery were much enjoyed. After a move to Guildford she continued to look at art whenever possible, acquired some books about art and artists and decorated her flat with William Morris designs and some large posters of Mucha’s ‘The Four Seasons’. A much loved print by Robert Tavener also adorned a wall of her flat.

Very little practical art was possible though until, after 18 years, she had a break from teaching and in 1988 began to attend Adult Education classes in drawing and then watercolour with Clare Hackney. Further classes and workshops introduced her to the use of other media and other styles and by 1991 she had become an exhibiting member of the Farnham Art Society with which she has exhibited at the James Hockey and Foyer Galleries at the University College in Farnham. In 1992 she won a Highly Recommended Prize at an Open Exhibition at Farnham Maltings. From 1992-99 she was a member of the Arts Council for Woking, exhibiting and selling pictures at the Arts and Craft Shop to raise funds for the Galleries Project in Woking.

Unfortunately she had to return to science teaching in 1996, now also teaching some design and technology. Despite this she joined the Guildford Art Society in 2002 and in 2003 was elected to exhibiting membership. With them she has shown work at Guildford House Gallery and at the Harvey Gallery. In 2008 her work was used to publicize a Flower Festival in the village where she lives and she has also organized her own works in Wanborough Great Barn as part of the Heritage Weekend in 2005.

Now having retired from teaching, Bernice is exploring the opportunities available for aspiring artists in the new world of the internet. In the summer this year she attended an art course at Dillington House called ‘Abstracting the Landscape’ to support her ongoing search to find her own voice.

• Nationality: UNITED KINGDOM
• Date of birth : 1947
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary British Artists