Hello

As I look my back on my life, I was never really encouraged in art and creativity at school and certainly no one ever thought I should go to art school. 

I started work at 16 years old; sewing overalls in a factory and from then on it was all about earning some money. My parents had split up and my mum needed my board money. I had no other options but to work as we needed my income.

 

I married Jonathan, a farmers lad, on my birthday in May 1984. I made my own wedding dress from cheap satin fabric from Croft mill in Foulridge (now a housing estate) I splashed out on some lace to over lay the dress and bought a yellow ribbon to tie around my waist. It cost me £70.00 to make, which in those days was quite a lot of money.  A good friend, Elaine, helped me turn up the hem and I wore it with pride down the aisle on the arm of my wonderful uncle Peter.

 

My mother was an artist, who worked in oils, and her influence set in motion within me  a curiosity and fascination for art and creativity.  She soon became aware that I was following in her footsteps and when I got married and started a family of my own; She decided to give me her old oil brushes and oil paints. 

When I was pregnant with my first child; I spent most of my maternity days doing what I really loved - painting.

 

I soon became the mother of four beautiful children and life was very busy. 

 

I did manage to find time to sneak off up into the attic bedroom to explore my new oil paints. I painted my first picture on a piece of old hardboard. I primed it with an old tin of white emulsion as I didn’t have anything else. I remember painting a window with some pot pourri hanging from the curtain pole. I was amazed when my mother-in-law, Margaret, bought it from me. I remember thinking at the time that she had bought it to support me financially and took pity on me. Such was my lack of confidence in my art. Non the less I learnt to paint using oil paints and turps as medium. 

Consequently, the house smelt like a decorator’s garage!

 

My husband was a busy self-employed man and life became busier and busier, with his business and our growing family.

Life as young parents and self employed had its challenges and we were struggling to make ends meet. There was a need for me to try and earn a little bit of extra money for housekeeping. 

It was the 1980’s and swags and tails and curtain tie backs were all the rage.  I returned to the trade I knew and began sewing from my spare bedroom when the children were at nursery and school. I made swags and tails and all things soft furnishing. 

My little cottage industry was named 'Finishing Touches', and my business grew and I ventured out and opened my own shop on Rainhall Road in Barnoldswick in Lancashire.

 

 

I was still called to my art in the attic whenever I had time to splash a bit more paint around. I remember frequenting Barnoldswick library scouring all the art books I could read.

 

One day I passed the Civic Hall to find an art exhibition of a local artist called Patricia Jones. I entered the building with my pushchair, struggling up the steps and then wandering around the exhibition in the lounge. I was absolutely blown away by her talent and wished I could paint that way. 

That was the moment I became hooked on watercolour. I wanted to learn all I could about it. I just loved the fluid transparent layers of paint, I was fascinated. 

Patricia told me about a man called Arthur Craven who had taught her watercolour painting in Keighley. I was eager to learn so I joined Arthur's class, and made rapid progress, I was hungry to learn, and develop my skill, from there I never looked back. 

I began responding to a very deep desire and an overwhelming urge to learn all I could about watercolour. 

Practicing and trying them out whenever I could.  I also had a desire to buy better quality art materials - but they are also more expensive.  A journey always takes time and commitment!

My passion for learning and developing my skills is still as strong today as it was back then. 

That was over 40 years ago and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Art is a very personal spiritual journey of exploration and primal emotions and I am still evolving into the artist within me. 

I believe we have all come from the earth and to my mind art is getting back to our true selves our own roots, in and of the earth.

 

 

In 2007 I had the unique opportunity to diversify, I was working in a hotel as assistant manager at the time. Getting more and more disillusioned and frustrated because I was not fulfilling my dream. 

I ventured out to begin reaching for my dream - I took some time, and took a leap of faith, into starting my very first art class in a small village in Gargrave, Yorkshire. 

It felt like a brave move, with no official qualifications; but I had a gift and a passion, and I discovered I had the ability to teach and encourage others, it came very naturally to me. I love being with people, doing what I love and nurturing that passion for creativity in others too, helping them find their artist within.

I have found my purpose in life; my passion is not just to develop myself  but to pass that on to others; by teaching and encouraging  people and sharing my art experiences.  I am finally doing what I love the most, living my dream.

 

I now run several classes/workshops in my local area.  I also undertake commissions for pet and human portraits.

This website is my way of reaching out to more people in the hope of connecting with them and encouraging more people to discover their artist within. 

 

I have been teaching since 2007, in and around my locality.  I have  exhibited my work, which I hope to put up in this website and make available for sale.

 

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you feel I could help you in any way on your journey of discovery and exploration in art and creativity.

 

Ali x