Fiona Abel-smith

Artist Details

Artist Name: Fiona Abel-smith
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Tuition

I jointly run a craft club and give lessons on oil painting both to classes within the club, and on an individual one to one basis.

If you would like any information please email me at :fionaabel-smith@fsmail.net

 

Biography

Ever since a child, all I have ever wanted to do was paint! My sole aim on leaving school was to go to art college, which I was only able to do for a one year foundation course, before personal circumstances dictated that I got a 'real' job. Throughout my working life however I always managed to find time to draw and paint, mainly in water colour.

A bad accident in 1991 left me with a permanent disability and after struggling for 10 years, continuing to work through constant pain, I had no choice but to give up. What I did not give up on though was my art, this is what kept me going through some very tough times; and I discovered a new media, oils, which absorbed me totally from the start. I think it is a wonderful, full and vibrant medium which allows a real sense of depth of colour in the paintings.

I now paint full time and consider myself very lucky to be able to do something which makes me so very happy, and, so it seems, also creates works of art that other people appreciate too. Much of my work is detailed, and the big still lifes can take more than two months to paint.

My subject matters vary constantly and I am happy to cover any subject on commission, the only things that remain unchanged are my distinctive style and the strong colours which infuse all my works. I normally paint in oils, self taught, and make particular use of blending techniques to create soft outlines and shading. I also quite often put hidden meanings into my work, particularly the still lifes, can you spot them?

My inspiration comes almost totally from the natural world, and everytime I go somewhere I get inspired to paint. I am constantly jotting down little reminders to myself of ideas for paintings, which I then grow into the fully finished work.

As well as painting I have used my artistic skills in a variety of crafts and I create and sell unique items in papier mache, polymer clay, decorative tiles and jewellery.

 

Exhibitions

Rincon De L Victoria, Spain
June 1999 Solo Exhibition

Torrox Costa, Spain
September 2000 Solo Exhibition

2004 - 2007 Numerous country shows and fairs

MKSA Exhibition
August 2007 Woburn, Bedfordshire

MKSA Exhibition
16-18 November 2007 at The Institute, Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire

Bucks Open Studios, The Old Gaol, Buckingham
23 - 28 June 2008

The Big Moo Fringe Festival of the Arts
Middleton Hall, Milton Keynes
11 - 13 July 2008

The Bead Scene Studio, Potterspury
14 June 2009

Stoke Mandeville Hospital June - August 2009

 

Media

Oils, Pastels, Watercolour, Watercolour Pencil

 

Subjects

Animals, Botanical Illustration, Fantasy, Figure, Flowers And Gardens, Impressionism, Landscape, Life Drawing, Portrait, Seascapes and Water, Still Life, Surrealism, Trees and Foliage, Wild Flowers, Wildlife