Margaret Ellis
SAA PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATE, DEMONSTRATOR and PROMOTER
Margaret (nee Margaret Jones) was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and now lives in the Ecclesall area on the edge of the Peak District National Park. She has drawn and painted all her life, since being about four years old!
Margaret studied art at grammar school and went on to train at Sheffield College of Art and Sheffield College of Education obtaining the Art Teacher's Diploma with distinction. As Margaret Stevens, and later, as Margaret Ellis she taught art for many years and gained a post for Head of Department and later became an Advisory Teacher.
After taking early retirement in 1997 Margaret had more time for her own painting once more and began to have success with exhibitions, sales and commissions.
Now Margaret has had a studio built adjoining her house to be a permanent gallery for her work and to use for teaching adults in small art classes.
In addition to being a Professional Associate, Margaret is an official demonstrator and promoter for the S.A.A. and does day workshops and demonstrations for art groups and societies. She also runs painting holidays in Britain and abroad. Recent venues have been Robin Hood's Bay, the Yorkshire Dales and the Dubrovnik area of Croatia.
She still finds time to paint for herself, of course, and takes commissions. She is an associate member of the Society of Feline Artists and has had a number of commissions for pet and wildlife portraits. She also has work in private collections in the U.S.A., Hong Kong and South Australia. She loves painting the landscapes of the Peak District and has also spent several holidays painting on the Adriatic Riviera.
2002 & 2003
The Great Sheffield Art Show
Wild About Art (Wildlife Art Show). Sheffield.
Annual Exhibitions of the Society of Feline Artists at the Llewllyn Alexander Gallery, London.
The Clock Tower Gallery, Sheffield.
Various local exhibitions.
2004
"Wild About Art" 6th exhibition.March 2004
OPEN UP SHEFFIELD 2004 -
Open studio and one-woman exhibition of over 40 pictures. May 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 8th, 9th. 2004. Weetwood studio/Gallery (0114) 2367380
www.openupsheffield.co.uk
Great Sheffield Art Show - own stand and demonstrations - July 2004
Society of Feline Artists Annual Exhibition - Alexander Llewellyn Galleries, Waterloo, London - September 2004
2005
"Wild About Art" exhibition 2005
"Open Up Sheffield" 2005
"Great Sheffield Art Show" 2005
Society of Feline Artists Exhibition 2005
"Art in the Gardens" exhibition 2005
"A Brush with Fame", ITV1, July 2005 - October 2005
CLASSES, WORKSHOPS and PAINTING HOLIDAYS
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CLASSES (Info updated 17/04/2008)
My classes are in small. relaxed and friendly groups and the lessons are mainly on drawing skills and watercolour techniques, although other media are often used along with the watercolour. I don't do any teaching in oils as the long drying time and clearing up problems make it impractical for a two hour lesson.
As a trained art teacher I know the value of thorough planning, preparation and organisation in teaching.
I arrange my classes in 10 lesson courses which are held 3 times a year - Autumn, Winter and Spring - in order to leave the school summer holidays free. The Winter course is from the second week in January to late March,the Spring one is from Easter to end of June or beginning of July and the Autumn course from the second week in September to the the beginning of December. There is usually one or two week's break in the middle of each course to coincide with the schools' half term holidays.
Each course has a theme. The theme may be subject matter, media used, inspiration from a famous painter, techniques or a particular location. (Themes have included, "People and Portraits", "Interiors and Light", "Line and Wash", "John Yardley", "The Yorkshire Coast", "Mixing Media with Watercolour", "Edward Seago". "Perspective", "Atmosphere and Mood.) The current theme is "Flowers and Gardens".
Seven lessons of the 10 lesson course are directed by me with demonstrations, examples, worksheets and written information as required. In the last 3 lessons the "students" put into practice what they have learned by doing their own original work based on, or inspired by, the current theme and I give individual help and advice. For this reason I never have more than 8 people in a class, so that I can give everyone plenty of individual attention. I have beginners, improvers and proficient artists in my groups and I aim to help each person to work at their own pace to improve their skills, become more confident and really enjoy their painting.
The lessons are held on Tuesdays - mornings and afternoons, Wednesdays - mornings and evenings, Thursdays - mornings only.
I also do demos and day workshops for art clubs and societies and run painting holidays in Britain and abroad.
At present spaces are available in the Tuesday morning class and the Wednesday evening class.
Appeared on the ITV programme "A Brush with Fame" which was shown Autumn 2005.
Acrylic Inks, Acrylics, Canvas, Collage, Coloured Pencil, Drawing, Glass, Gouache, Mixed Media, Oils, Pastels, Pen And Wash, Pencil/Charcoal, Varnishing, Watercolour, Watercolour Pencil
Abstract, Animals, Buildings, Colour Mixing, Decorative Art, Expressionism, Fantasy, Figure, Flowers And Gardens, Illustration, Landscape, Portrait, Seascapes and Water, Skies, Still Life, Townscapes, Wildlife
South Yorkshire, United Kingdom mainland