I was inspired to paint in the late 1960s by my most brilliant art teacher David Rees from Treorchy in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales. As Head of the Art Department at my Grammar School, he was small in stature but prodigious in his ability to convey his love of art, and also in developing his students to give of their best.
Having left school after sitting my ‘O’ level exams, I reconnected with David some nine year later. He told me of his disappointment that I never went to art college but we still spoke enthusiastically about art. David introduced me to a different media in the course of our talks, encouraging me to take up drawing and painting once again.
Since then I have “dabbled” on and off throughout the years, but my focus was on primarily on attaining a Batchelor of Science degree in IT and Computing and Masters in Business Administration. After that, getting married and having a family took precedence, as well as fighting cancer since the late 90s.
Having married a wonderful man and blessed to have a beautiful, intelligent daughter, I find those years went by in a flash. I now find myself retired without the pressures of day-2-day work, and have taken up the pencil and brush once again.
Based in Cardiff, my work focusses on those places I have visited (or would like to!) and birds and animals I’ve encountered over the years. I have a love of the rugged beauty of Wales and its hills and mountains, and the landscapes that were changed as a result of over-industrialism.
I primarily work in watercolour and oils and have exhibited and won prizes, mostly in local exhibitions and shows. I like detail, and whilst I often feel constrained by this, it is how I like to paint. I am trying to improve and grow into techniques of a more “flowing” style, but for the most part, I paint what I enjoy to look at.
Anyone browsing Chickadoodle website and finding themselves interested in purchasing my artwork, please do get in touch.
I hope you enjoy my art.
Best wishes
Ros James