Art & Culture
ARTIST AT WORK
No. 30: Jill Preston, Canopy (no.5) Acrylic on Canvas, 40 x 40 cm, £170
I
have loved painting from early childhood and when I gained a Distinction in A Level Art, many years ago, I vowed that I would take it up seriously when I retired. This I did – sharpening up my skills by attending courses, workshops and joining local art groups. I increased my confidence by exhibiting locally, in club and open exhibitions, solo shows and with friends. I now have a studio at home, where I paint mainly in watercolour, acrylics and mixed media. I take my inspiration from the land and seascapes of the British Isles, especially the South West – usually making sketches or taking photographs and then returning to the studio to make the finished painting. I am currently enjoying exploring impressionistic approaches and abstraction, in order to portray – as best I can – my retrospective and emotional responses to my world. During the lockdown last year, I used my regular dog walks to slow down and look more closely at my immediate surroundings. This resulted in two new series of paintings: Canopy and The Ground Beneath My Feet. jillprestonpainter.co.uk
6 | Sherborne Times | May 2021
