Originally, I trained and worked as a picture restorer for a London firm, and from there I went on to do my Fine Art degree. Following this I got married and brought up a family while continuing to restore paintings from home and to help my husband with our horse training and competition business, as money was always short! and so putting my art work on hold.
When my boys had grown up, I got the pull to go back to my art, firstly with watercolour, but having gone to a fabulous acrylic work shop I knew immediately that this was the medium for me with its freedom, adaptability and quick drying (which a lot of people hate) and I was immediately hooked and so I started painting in earnest, which has now become a complete passion and so good for my mental health and well-being, getting lost in my studio, with loud classical music playing, full of emotion – Shostakovich’s 5th symphony for example. I have also always loved living and being in the countryside - my safe space, so my painting is always about the landscape and countryside, even though it can vary quite a lot from impressionistic to abstract. I use expressive marks and colour, always painting intuitively and energetically to express the layers and movement which is always within the landscape.
I love exhibiting where I can be present and talk to the visitors about my art so I’m thrilled that my first exhibition of the year is Oxfordshire Artweeks (no 4 in the catalogue) our exhibition is for the second year in the up-graded village hall of Piddington OX25 1PU with 7 other very talented and varied artists.
Open May 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, 12th, from 11am - 5pm
Other artists:
- Fiona Buszard - mainly abstract painter
- Stuart Feurtado - Incredible photographer
- Liz Shorthouse - more realistic landscape and portrait painter
- Liz Dee - Silver jeweller makind lovely items
- David Shepherson - amazing pen maker
- Heidi Fenn - jeweller in felt, concrete and silver
- Monika Morgan - Up cycler of pots and furniture
I am always more than happy to show people my on going and completed work in my messy studio! Please contact me through my website: www.karenjoyart.weebley.com
Other exhibitions:
- The potters wheel, St Martins St. Wallingford Oxon from 18th May for 2 months
- Bucks artweeks at St Nicholas Church, Kingsey HP17 8LY June 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 2nd, 23rd
- Leamington Spa Art in the Park 3rd and 4th August