The “Big Art Fair” at Old Town Hall, Hitchin on 23-25 June 2023 is the current focus in my studio, with some new work in the pipeline. Meanwhile, I’m showing work at various galleries, venues and other creative events.
In May I was at Living Crafts in Hatfield Park and on 3 June will take part in Letchworth Settlement’s Summer Fair.
My work continues to be displayed at “Artisans in the Yard” gallery in Shefford and I’ve recently been accepted for inclusion in two themed exhibitions at Art & Soul Gallery, St Neots. “Far away” in May and “By the Riverside” in April.
I began 2023 with the “Wild and Free” exhibition at Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre from 11 January-18 March where I showed my paintings alongside Karen Mangold and Sally Taylor. This fantastic venue is in the heart of Baldock and I ran a series of acrylics workshops there. This in turn led to me running a “Colour Harmony” workshop at Letchworth Settlement as part of their Easter week programme. An “Intro to Gel Plate Printing” will be included in their Summer programme. I’m also booked to run an abstract composition workshop at Basement at Bunyan in June.
For Open Studios 2023, I’ll be showing my work and demonstrating at Letchworth Settlement as part of a group of 8 talented local artists. From 9 September-30 September.
Val paints intuitively, using colour and contrast, texture and shapes to develop her expressive abstract artwork. Usually working in acrylics, mixed media or oils, Val often creates a series connected by a colour palette or a theme. Her recent work has been purely abstract, but she also enjoys capturing people and taking a quirky viewpoint on a familiar object.
Mostly self-taught, Val developed her skills at various short courses and workshops. Influences have included artists she’s worked with - as well as more famous ones. She loves Van Gogh and Rothko for their use of colour; Monet’s mark-making; and Delaunay’s use of shapes and tones. Val enjoys experimenting with new materials, tools or techniques, which may then be used as in her future work.
Art and creativity have been constants throughout Val’s life, fitting around the demands of a busy career and her family. In recent years, her hobby has become a passion and she spends time every day on her art practice. In 2020, Val used painting to tackle depression caused by the impact of the pandemic. She explored colour, researching colour psychology and creating colour charts, and found this helped her to cope. This led in turn to a much more introspective approach in her creative practice. It triggered a shift to an abstract style of painting, which has evolved further over the last two years.
Val still uses an impressionist style for commissions (if necessary), but her main focus is on creating colourful expressive abstract paintings.
