Featured Artists
We are delighted to be showcasing the work of artists Judith Douglas, Clare O’Neill,
Annie Graham, Katie Whitbread, Alison Alldis, Annie Sherburne, Marie Pearson and Diana Wilson
in The Silver Sheep Gallery.
Judith Douglas
After doing a degree in textile design and going on to Goldsmiths College to train as an art teacher, Judith went on to teach design at art colleges whilst also setting up a studio in Rotherhithe printing and hand-painting textiles.
She worked in collaboration with other designers to produce ranges of screen printed fabric for both fashion and furnishings as well as exhibiting in various galleries and trade shows.
After moving to Hastings Judith began to work with people with learning difficulties, using art as therapy and expression. Since branching out into ceramics, Judith uses her past textile influence to create detailed one-off pieces. A lot of the work draws from folk traditions using the natural world as inspiration together with the marine environment.
Clare O’Neill
I am a textile artist living in Ashdown Forest, East Sussex. With a background in studying textile design at art schools in London and Surrey, I create mixed media paintings that showcase my love of nature and wildlife. I have developed an exclusive giftware range featuring fine art prints, greeting cards and homewares.
I take my inspiration from the natural surroundings of where I live, capturing the seasonal changes and gathering materials from walks on the forest.
Never one to follow the “less is more” approach, I find decorating my home with objects I love allows me to further express my creative side, and this is also reflected in my work. Intricate layers of newspaper, collage and scripts are all elements I return to again and again.
My work has been described as organic, whimsical and rustic.
email: claireoneillartworks@yahoo.com
Annie Graham
Having spent my career in advertising as an Art Director, I look at my subjects with a graphic eye. All of my paintings are inspired by photographs I have taken both in the UK and abroad. It could be a scene a landscape, or the angles and shadows of a building, colours and shapes, engineered or organic. I’m inspired by blue skies and bold images.
I work in acrylics on board and also produce limited edition prints to order. Commissions undertaken.
Website: anniegrahamartist.co.uk artroamer.com
Instagram: anniegrahamartist
See works for sale in our online shop.
Katie Whitbread
I originally trained as a 3D designer and worked in set design for television for twenty years before moving on to teach art. I now very much enjoy working for myself, painting in my garden studio in Tunbridge Wells.
I work mainly in oils and this series of paintings were all done during lockdown this summer. Most of my work is inspired by nature, the landscape, plants and trees. I prefer to work from sketches but often paint what I see directly from my studio, fascinated by changing colours and patterns of light.
Quite early on in lockdown there was some very heavy rain after a dry period and it was a if a magic spell had been cast over my garden. I felt as if my senses had somehow been amplified. Colours took on a fresh intensity which inspired a new, fresh and bold palette.
Instagram: @katiewhitbread Website: katiewhitbreadart.com
See works for sale in our online shop.
Alison Alldis
I’m never happier than when I’m creating in my shed in my garden in Langton Green. I make a varied array of individual pottery pieces.
My love affair with clay began over 20 years ago when my children were small and I would escape for one evening a week to a hand building class and the rest is history, as they say.
I love and hate the uncertainty of the process of pottery. And to make good pots is really hard, so you never stop learning.
My inspiration is everywhere, a cliche I know, but I do have what I call ‘a funny eye’ and always make what I like and don’t mind adding a twist of wonk to every pot, so as not to bore myself senseless. I’m always delighted when someone gets my work and double chuffed when they buy it.
I work with different clays for different makes but my favourite is slipped red earthenware.
See works for sale in our on line shop.
Annie Sherburne
Annie’s late husband, Mark Gladwell, started a company called Pure Fabrication, which made jewellery for shops and stores all over the world. He employed 50 people from an ex bra factory in soho. It was a treasure trove of components. It was inhabited by creative people from all over the world who helped to design and produce the jewellery and accessories.
Initially Mark had a shop on Portobello Road, where he met and was befriended by a German Jew called Wolfie who had escaped the death camps in Germany and made his home in London. The 2nd world war affected trade and destroyed businesses, not least the fashion jewellery trade. Wolfie used to buy and sell things. One day he bid on a train load of stones, findings and beads which had come from Czechoslovakia , which is known for its fine crystal and glass products. The lot came in 2nd world war ammunition cases, which were full of the most vintage components. They were duly delivered to Denman street, and stored on the roof as the building was already full of wonderful stuff. That summer the then US president Reagan was visiting London. Security was high because historically, London was suffering from threats of bombs from the IRA. Up on the roof, the sun was blazing and various arty types were taking their break when the building was raided by the SAS. Armed police rushed through the building onto the roof with guns, believing they had foiled a plot to assassinate the president. The view from the roof was directly over Horseguards Parade and Downing Street. Many years later,
Annie continues to make jewellery using this resource. All the pieces are unique one offs, and hold this interesting history.
See works for sale in our online shop.
Marie Pearson
Marie uses stoneware and porcelain clay to make both thrown and hand built work based on her sketches and prints of the natural and coastal landscape. Surfaces are treated with coloured slips, sgraffito, oxides and resist at semi-dry stage and further resist at glazing stage.
Marie trained in ceramics and design at Middlesex and the Royal College of Art. After a long spell of working in the design industry it wasn’t until 2004 that she was able to set up her own garden studio in Tunbridge Wells where she can be found most days.
See works for sale in our online shop.
Diana Wilson
Diana Wilson designs colourful greetings cards, exotic shawls and creates one-off pieces of statement jewellery that are sold in boutiques, lifestyle shops and galleries around Britain and Europe.
The inspiration for Diana’s designs come from vintage jewellery, illustration and photography. She combines strong found images with pictures of flora, fauna and jewels to create vibrant, individual compositions.
She also produces bespoke designs exclusively for specific shops. Diana lives and works in Bath.
See works for sale in our online shop.