Two or three of decades ago I thought it would be a great idea to make a living as an artist. Actually, a careers advisor thought it would be a great idea – I just thought it would be fun.
Having cut my teeth as an ‘old school’ graphic designer, hunched over a drawing board with a pot of Cow Gum (look it up), a scalpel and a spatula, I felt that my first love, painting, might sustain me. As a result, I became a go-to artist for dog portraits in Southampton.
Three of many dogs, oil on canvas
Millie and Scruff – a more recent work, oil on canvas
No – your eyes didn’t deceive you. That’s a Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig – oil on canvas
Fast forward about three years – and lots of dogs, a few horses, a parrot and a Vietnamese pot bellied pig (as well as a few people portraits) later, I packed it in in favour of graphic design. Things had moved on considerably – Macs had overtaken drawing boards – and I loved using them creatively. I justified my decision by convincing myself that I had just ‘switched mediums’ – from oils to computers – but the truth is I just wanted a change. I didn’t pick up another paintbrush for 15 years.
Today I love the fact that I’ve slipped back into painting, under no pressure to deliver (except by the self-doubt that plagues every artist). Every year I’ve received an invitation to exhibit at the Royal Lymington Yacht Club Members’ Art Exhibition… and always allowed the deadline to slide on by without submitting anything. But not this year… I thought I’d have a crack at a subject that I felt might have an outside chance of helping me sell a few greeting cards… the club itself.
Don’t worry if you miss the chance to buy a card or two at the club (the exhibition takes place on November 14-16 2014) – I’ve set up a basic online shop (surprise, surprise) where you can buy as many as you like! And you’ll find some of my mum’s there as well: Greeting-Card-Art.co.uk
The Royal Lymington Yacht Club, acrylic on watercolour paper
Nick Beresford-Davies
