Nina inspires you to capture moments from local walks and bring them to your paintings over 50 minutes of high quality video.
I have a travelling studio – an easel, set of pastels and a flask of coffee and I’m happy. I’ll draw in an open field or warm cosy studio but love the bustle of people and the conversations they bring. I’ve enjoyed working at local events with my work displayed and working on a recent commission whilst people potter and chat. I’m well known for portraits of people’s pets, for me, it’s all about capturing a personality, creating something that looks real. With everything I paint I want the viewer to feel they can walk in or my subject is just about to jump out!
I studied illustration at Falmouth College of Arts and started working as an illustrator 30 years ago. It has now developed into a range of commission-based work, recently including beautiful family homes, prize winning cattle and pets and family pastel portraits. I regularly demonstrate my pastel painting at Art Groups and have also been invited to be Artist in Residence at local Events and Shows. I was invited to work alongside The Kings Troop, where I created artwork and studies of the beautiful horses and ‘behind the scenes’ studies. My work has been exhibited in Dorset and London and generous collectors mean that my work hangs in homes worldwide.
I have two styles one lending itself to the details required for animal portraits and one looser for the seascapes that I enjoy capturing. My popular pastel classes developed from peoples interest in the way I worked, what started as a small group has grown into a regular class and, more recently, online workshops and live demonstrations. My love of the sea and sailing has inspired seascapes which Unison pastel are perfect for. I’ve developed a way of working where I create a painting, liquifying the pastels with alcohol to create a surface to layer pastels on top of. You can see how these develop on my Youtube Channel.
A fabulous day was spent at Thorneyburn last Friday in the company of Fiona Carvell, Michelle Lucking, Nina Squire, Cathy Pierce, Lynn Howarth, Meral Altilar, Lucy Brangwin and Rebecca de Mendonça.
I’ve found the best advice is to keep it simple. I am lucky enough to live in Dorset which is full of inspirational views. There are so many views and places that it can often be overwhelming.
Back in November, I had a call from Unison Helen. “Would you be happy to go to Jackson’s Art HQ and talk about our pastels?”
Are you a pastel artist? Do you use Unison Colour pastels? Would you like to be part of our Associate Artist family?
Associate Artist Nina Squire, returns to host her second challenge where she will challenge you to paint the beautiful and well known Dorset scene – Durdle Door.
I really loved working with you all on our Old Harry Rocks Five Day Pastel Challenge last year. I thought that you might be interested in hearing how it came about and the work behind it.
Got a question?
Or give us a call on +44 (0)1434 240203 and choose option 1, for Liz.
For trade enquiries, please contact us as below:
liz@unisoncolour.com or call Liz on +44 (0)1434 240203 Option 1