Pam’s award winning artwork is held in an impressive range of private and corporate collections. She has also held numerous solo exhibitions throughout Britain and in the USA and has participated in several group shows including the Royal Scottish Society (RSA), the Royal Glasgow Institute (RGI), Visual Arts Scotland (VAS), and the Paisley Art Institute (PAI). She gained an award from each of the latter three venues.

The Creative Impulse…

I have many passions, which are as varied as life. They include animals, fashion, the great outdoors… all these things have inspired me to paint. I also love to travel both for the sheer pleasure of seeing the world and for the opportunity to store up ideas for my next set of paintings! I often feel that rather than me choosing a subject, it chooses me through my own emotional response to something. I may be laughing at a funny face, feeling becalmed by a beautiful sky, or experiencing excitement looking in a shoe shop window…! All these things make me feel the urge to pick up a paintbrush and go for it! I have learnt to make sure I am never without my sketch book in one hand and my camera in the other, as I need to record these ideas on paper to remind me of exactly how I felt at the time.

My grandad was always drawing pictures to amuse me, and I have an uncle who is an artist; these two individuals probably represent the strongest personal influences on my work. I do admire a great many famous artists of course, but am unable to cite any one in particular as being a major figure in my artistic development.

The Creative Process…

I am an avid photographer and never go anywhere without my camera. I take masses of photographs of anything that catches my eye, and file these images away for future use and inspiration. I also make sketches as they are often the thing that gives me the “angle” from which I want to approach a subject. I love to work with inks and handmade paper, as these media offer me endless possibilities; there are so many fantastic textures of paper available nowadays, and the inks react differently with each of them. I have spent years examining the way the inks bleed and how the colours react and combine on the papers. I love the idea that the tools of my trade make such a strong contribution to the finished composition; if I had used an alternative paper the image might have looked quite different, which means I really do have to get to grips with the properties of my chosen materials. Recently I have also begun to use acrylics on canvas as I love the quality of the colours, and again, the texture of paint on canvas.

Background…

Nicky’s background is in fashion and textile design. Having graduated from Winchester School of Art in 1991, she moved into a highly specialised career as a milliner. Here her exceptional skills helped her to build a loyal and substantial client base amongst both private buyers and major agencies. In 1997, Nicky decided to focus her creative talents in two entirely new areas – fine art painting and interiors. With a wide network of contacts made over the previous six years she found a ready audience, and with their encouragement she finally gained the confidence to concentrate full time on her drawing and painting. Nicky’s passion for pattern, texture, form and colour are apparent in all aspects of her work. Highly textured handmade papers and vibrant coloured inks form an effective medium for her enchanting subjects; the inks bleed into the paper in a manner reminiscent of fabric painting; a trademark of Nicky’s work that owes a lot to her background! Cats, dogs, handbags, shoes, furniture… just about anything that is found around the house has been turned into something memorable by her witty and observant hand. A genuine outdoor girl, Nicky’s mountain biking, snowboarding and hiking have brought her into close contact with some magnificent scenery which has inspired her latest venture: a stunning set of seascapes on wood and canvas. Bold and imaginative, she adds a range of iridescent paints to the acrylics, altering the effect of each piece; as the light changes the image seems to fade along with the day.

“I am thrilled to be able to put a smile on someone else’s face through my art!”

After studying at Tameside College of Art James set up his studio in Cheshire. As a result of featuring in a series of successful one-man shows in th local area, he quickly established a formidable reputation in the artistic community as a creative and versatile young talent.

In the early days James was inspired by unconventional outdoor scenes that combined interesting shapes, textures and colours; a particular favourite was his local scrapyard, especially on a rainy day. He liked to explore the idea of man’s incursion on the environment and the obvious next step for his work was the cityscape. With success came the opportunity to travel the world in his quest to absorb the sights, sounds and atmospheres of his chosen subjects, and this experience has informed his stunning depictions of New York as well as various European locations .

James loves to experiment with art materials and creates his atmospheric images in a wide variety of media. He exhibits in galleries in Europe, the USA and across the UK and has a range of prestigious private and corporate collectors. His work in on show in the boardrooms of such prestigious companies as BT and Siemens.

James’s powerful, ultra-stylish compositions stop us in our tracks as effectively as the speeding Ferraris they portray. A striking example of modern male success, James is talented, innovative and competitive, with that traditional masculine weakness for the sexier things in life – particularly fast cars. His images contrast the myriad greys of sidewalks and skyscrapers with occasional ventures towards the bolder end of the spectrum. To achieve this distinctive look, James approached a bespoke pastel manufacturer and had over 50 different shades of grey individually created ranging from oyster to ash, from iron to dove, from seawashed pebbles to cloudy skies. These allow him to describe every nuance of concrete, smoke and sky to stunning effect with minimal use of the more conventional range of colours, a stylistic achievement which has won him a unique place on the contemporary art market.

Jack’s breakthrough year was 1988, when he felt ready to display his paintings in public and submitted two canvases for the Royal Scottish Academy annual show. Both paintings sold on the first day and he was approached by several galleries who wanted to sell his other work. The success and attention contributed to the breakdown of his first marriage and he moved to Edinburgh. A string of successful exhibitions followed in Edinburgh, London, Hong Kong, Johannesburg and New York.

Jack is the most successful and popular Scottish artist in history. Recognition has come not only through astonishing sales of his work, but in a variety of other ways too; he has been awarded an OBE, holds an honorary degree from the University of St Andrew’s, and his private collectors range from his compatriot Robbie Coltrane to Hollywood superstar Jack Nicholson. When his famous painting “The Singing Butler” sold for £744,800 at the Sotheby’s Spring Sale he became the subject of a BBC South Bank Show entitled
‘The People’s Painter’.

Jack’s latest collection displays all the qualities that have made Vettriano into a household name - his nostalgic subject matter, enigmatic narrative detail, and unmistakable use of colour combine to give the viewer the strange but pleasurable sensation of having stepped into the opening scene of a film noir.

“Art is beyond an image of perception and creativity. Art is part of the past, present, future, where one can interpret their own view. Painting allows me as an artist to express my strengths or my vulnerability. Each brushstroke builds up a story, a life and, a passion.”

Owning a piece of art is beyond the physical canvas itself, but owning a piece of time.

Nick went on to study art and design at Oxford Brookes, followed by graphic design at London College of Printing and then fine art at Cheltenham College of Art. Here he immersed himself in painting - making the daydreams real with shape and form and colour.

Nick won the Lloyds Bank Young Printmaker Prize in 1983. Since then Nick has exhibited work in galleries throughout the UK and in Europe and has paintings in public and private collections throughout the world.

Nemo Colesnicenco grew up in Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova. This Eastern European nation is known for its rich artistic heritage. Nemo, as he is known to his friends, remembers being fascinated by the carvings and other craftworks that surrounded him. In particular he loved paintings and from an early age he was determined to become an artist.

Nemo began intense inquiry into the style and techniques of the famous painters and formed a particular interest in the work of the Surrealists. He enrolled in art school but did not enjoy the strict academic style of the Russian based academy and abandoned his traditional training in favour of practical experience. His talent flourished and soon he was organizing large outdoor art fairs to show his work and that of other young artists.

At this point Nemo enlisted in the Soviet Army where he served for two years. After completing his tour of duty he returned to his artistic career, and together with a good friend he started a successful business restoring works of art and painting murals in churches.

The ever increasing freedom in their country inspired the desire to travel in many Russian citizens, and Nemo and his family moved to Canada.They settled just north of Toronto and Nemo felt himself to be at a gateway to the world. Nemo’s work is widely collected and is represented in galleries throughout Canada and the USA.

For years after that I concentrated on perfecting my watercolour skills and felt that this was the path for me. I was quite a successful watercolour artist for many years and was pushed by a friend who has a gallery in Somerset to try out acrylics. This I did, and to my surprise I absolutely loved them. I have no formal training in art so I have had to learn by my own mistakes, yet I would have it no other way as I feel that this is the best way of developing your own technique. I am married with two fabulous children and one grandson, who all keep my feet on the ground. We moved to Somerset in 1999 which was fabulous for my artistic inspiration, as the colours and the local sounds of the country really help to free up my mind.

Mark has always been influenced by the work of Degas and the Impressionists. Although he produces superb original pastels he is now moving more towards exclusive use of oils. He is also currently exploring some exciting new avenues in terms of subject matter. Mark’s technical mastery of his chosen medium enables him to create images which exude atmosphere through his use of texture and deep, rich colours. A regular exhibitor at the Mall Galleries in London, he also enjoys phenomenal international success and cites Jeffrey Archer and Bamber Gascgoine amongst his celebrity collectors.

In 1993 Mark was awarded the coveted Patterson Award presented by the Royal Pastel Society of which he is a member, and he has since been invited to join the prestigious Royal Water-Colour Society and the Royal Oil Institute.