She is a firm believer of painting outdoors from nature, en plein air, in natural, wild, quiet places, this is where she finds her inspiration. She spends many months making numerous studies in one place, then develops them into a large abstract work. Colour and shapes are what inspire her together with design, texture and feeling of the place. It is usually something deep in the subconscious mind that is coming out to do with herself and her spiritual path.
She follows her intuition when choosing places to paint, usually a place she sees when out walking. She paints around her home enjoying the countryside. She paints for the pure pleasure of being outdoors.
Color Attitude, Moka Business Centre, Moka.
Exhibition at the Gallery "Color Attitude" Moka Business Park, Moka. Vernissage, (opening), Thursday 27th March, 2014, 6pm. Expo carries on until April 3rd.
Le Chateau de Belle Ombre, Telfair Hotel, Belle Ombre.
My latest watercolour sketches and oil paintings of forests will be exhibited at the restaurant, Le Chateau de Belle Ombre for all those who enjoy art to view at their leisure over a good meal and nice glass of wine.
This means painting on site in the open air and the painting is done is one go, quickly. I use a pochade box and tripod and hike to my spots. The most important aspect is to be organised. I make a plan for my gardener or guide plus two very loyal fox terriers to come with me 'if the weather is good, we'll go painting tomorrow?' Unfortunately being a woman in Mauritius has its drawbacks and you can't go hiking on your own..not wise with the steep climbs down waterfalls and slippery rocks anyway! Painting like this is exhilarating and your mind tells you what colours to put down, even if they aren't there. I believe the real 'you' comes out when painting like this. In my case, I feel and see colours for a specific object or spot or area i.e. the mountain may be pink, the trees may be blue, the shadow may be red, purple or blue. I start by spending a long time warming up with charcoal, pastel, and or watercolour to become familiar with the scene, then as I feel more confident I get out the oils and it starts to come. I go back many times, sometimes as many as 10, or more to the same spot, usually when the weather is sunny or when the visibility is good. There are days when the mountains are 'clear'. There are days when I do nothing too, just turn around, frustrated not knowing what to do next. I just have to wait, then bingo, I get an idea and it starts to roll again. I must say, I spend a lot of days tossing and turning, this vacant time between starting and finishing is the 'gestation' period which goes with all creations. One day, it all comes together (if you're lucky)! Sometimes, after working in a spot for as long as 6 months on and off I crack out a huge one. Other times I abandon the studies and a year later feel like reworking the last one or I finish it off.
My inspiration is always triggered by something usually the landscape, when I am out walking in the wild, I see something I would like to paint. Other artists' work also inspires me. I am working more and more with Abstract making watercolour 'plays' then experimenting with oils on large canvas' in my studio.
I believe in using the best materials possible and paint only with Old Holland Classic Oil paints on linen canvas, primed with rabbit skin glue or board. My chassis are made by an excellent carpenter. I like to build colour up layer upon layer exploring the transparency of the paint. I start very loosely with large washes, oil and turpentine to keep the spontaneity.
Check out for details on how to build your own pochade box. Or 2008/08/17/pochade-boxes/
First prize for the Outspan competition.
I like to paint on site. This way the subconscious is working and you paint what you feel.
I like to paint in the wilderness far away from people, traffic and buildings. Rhythm, colour, light, composition, space, movement are all very important to me. I like to walk in quiet, wild places where I pick my spots. It takes time, you have to "stalk" your subject, it has to nag you to paint it! Every picture has a different method and you have to feel how to work it. Sometimes you just have to wait, you can't do anything! Thinking about it is also an important part of the process and giving it time, maturing as such. I spent 9 months in one spot at the 7 Cascades and in the end I got my big picture. After that I didn't feel like going there anymore. I listen to my intuition and go to the places that I feel I must go to. I also like shapes and colour.
Interesting shapes in the landscape attract me.
I am English, 58 years old, married to a Mauritian with 4 boys and have lived in Mauritius for the past 30 years. I studied Biligual Secretarial at L'Institut Francais in London for 2 years then worked in Brussels before studying Interior Design at Chelsea Art College and working in Paris and Mauritius. I started painting 30 years ago taking lessons with a well know Mauritian artist Serge Constantin. We would meet on Saturday afternoons with a group of artists and paint around Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, particularly at the Port. In 1997 I met Richard Kenton-Webb at the Slade School of Art, London and he has since been to Mauritius on holiday 7 times and taught me all about tone, colour and composition. I have also attended his courses at his house regularly. In 2012 I did a course with Barry John Raybould and joined his Visual Art Accademy. I am a full time painter, art is my passion and my life.
I like to paint outdoors, alla prima, (doing a painting in one session, wet in wet) with my pochade box and tripod. I hike all over, up and down mountains going back to a spot I saw when out walking.
Drawing, composition and understanding tone are extremely important, I always start a drawing in charcoal first. Then speed is the next step. When I have understood the subject I make studies in oil and a large painting.
VISIT MY BLOG:
Grand Palais “Salon d'Automn” - Pays Francophone: 1993 Grand Palais, Paris
Group exhibition with 3 ladies: 1994 Gallerie Helene de Senneville, Grand Baie, Mauritius
Group exhibition with 6 women at French Embassador's Residence: 1996 Floreal, Mauritius
SOLO exhibition: 1996 Gallerie Helene de Senneville
SOLO exhibition: 2000 Gallerie Helene de Senneville
First prize "Outspan" competition organised by Gallerie Helene de Senneville.
Group exhibition with 2 male artists: 2002 Didus Gallerie, Pamplemousse, Mauritius
Group exhibition with 3 male artists: 2005 Le Coin de Mire Gallerie, Centre de Conference,Grand Baie, Mauritius
SOLO exhibition IBL Port Louis, Mauritius 2009
SOLO exhibition 'Color Attitude' Gallery 2014
Group exhibition June 2016 Curepipe.
2016 UK Farnham Art Society Group Exhibition
2017 UK Guildford Art Society Group Exhibition
2017 UK Appart Exhibition Godalming
2017 Serge Constantin and his friend, Port Louis.
2017 Guildford Art Society Spring & Autumn Exhibition
2018 Guildford Art Society Spring Exhibition
2018 Surrey Artists Open Studios, Barford Farm.
2019 Guildford Art Society Sprint Exhibition
2019 SAOS
2019 UK Appart Exhibition April Godalming
2019 Guildford Art Society Autumn Nov Exhibition
2020 UK Appart Exhibition April Godalming
2020 SAOS
2020 NEAC First Selection committee.
2021 Appart Exhibition.
2021 SAOS
2022 Exhibited with the Pastel Society, Mall Galleries, London.
2022 Appart Exhibition
2022 SAOS
