Art inspired by nature

In each issue of RURAL we profile works by contemporary Jersey artists, who draw their inspiration from Jersey’s landscapes, natural environment or farming heritage

In this issue we feature a new picture by Doreen Cox: ‘Always busy’, painted in oils and also for sale.

Doreen (née de Gruchy) explained the inspiration behind the picture: ‘I was born in Jersey a few years after the war ended and the German Occupation was over. Both my parents were from farming families and spoke Jersey French. We lived in the far northwest corner of St Ouen, I had two sisters and I can remember cows and ponies being an integral part of our early lives. In fact, we loved everything connected with the farm, helping with the cows at home and at cattle shows, planting potatoes etc and so many other chores! Jersey was a wonderful, safe and very happy place to live in those days and I really did not want to leave the Island when I left school!

‘Art had always been my best subject at school and something I was interested in. I eventually got a job as an artist at the Jersey Pottery and that’s when I decided to start putting things down on canvas! I realised I could get a likeness and was later commissioned to paint a lot of champion Island cows. I went on to paint prize-winning cows of different breeds in England, also horses, teaching myself as I went along. ‘After marrying an Englishman my life changed somewhat! I now live on a farm in rural North Devon. My husband was a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm and after leaving the Navy we spent quite a few years overseas. During that time and over the years, I have painted many horses, dogs and different rural scenes. I am a member of the Society of Equestrian Artists and have exhibited at the Mall Galleries in London.

‘I work mostly in oils and water colour. I am also doing a Jersey Cow sculpture which I’m hoping to cast in bronze, and have had several of my cow and country paintings printed into greeting cards. I work mostly from photographs and if possible like to see the subject I am painting to try and bring out its character and personality.

‘I still have a lot of family and friends in Jersey and try and come back as often as I can. Jersey has changed somewhat from those early days but it will always be very special to me.’

Contact Doreen by e-mail: doreendegc@gmail.com