Tina Bone, AssocSBA
I was told I could draw by my teacher (Miss Treleven) when I was just seven: she had entered my ‘Fairy Queen’ painting into a children’s local art competition and I remember winning a big box of paints and brushes; and, at age eleven, whilst on holiday in Italy I was asked to paint a picture on canvas to replace a wooden wall painting of Madonna and Child which had burned during street celebrations – I spent my six weeks’ holiday, in my Aunty’s best room, painting.
After leaving school at 15 with no qualifications, a string of secretarial jobs which I hated (including training for the GPO as a telephonist), I married in 1967 at the tender age of 17, having become engaged on my sixteenth birthday. In order to keep up with the needs of my husband and three sons, I elected to work self-employed from home. Over the next 35 years I periodically purchased state-of-the-art publishing equipment and computer programmes to produce camera ready artwork for local publishers and organisations. The continual deadlines of publishing finally took their toll and in 2005 I decided to ‘retire’ from the publishing world. I spent my life savings to buy the latest equipment (of the day!), including a large format professional printer, so that I could produce my own limited edition prints and other saleable products in my own studio.
My secret desire had always been to paint professionally, so, though self-taught, I took the plunge and turned professional artist in March 2005. My favourite subjects are natural history (especially common British birds) and botanical illustration. Recently I followed a course at the University of Cambridge to learn the art of illuminated lettering, using gesso and gold leaf to produce stunning effects on highly decorated lettering, following designs from the old craftsmen as far back as the sixth century AD.
My childhood love of nature has been re-kindled since planting in 2004 a small ‘wild’ garden (20ft x 20ft) to provide live subjects. The little garden has been most successful with visits from many birds, frogs, newts, toads and all manner of insects. We have a resident hedgehog and wood mice. Black and grey squirrels also visit and ‘nick’ the bird seed.
Wherever possible, I paint life-size using live specimens, or make up compositions from photographs I have taken myself or supplied by family and friends, and from ‘delights’ experienced during field trips - always aiming to compose and paint realistic images to capture the characteristics and nuances of flora and fauna. I am a member of the Marwell International Wildlife Art Society (MIWAS), the Society of All Artists (SAA), the Cambridge Natural History Society (CNHS), the Cambridge City Group of the Wildlife Trust and the RSPB, Sandy. In 2007, for the first time, I submitted three works to the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art (NEWA); two were selected for the exhibition, and I sold one. I also sold at the 2008 NEWA exhibition. In February 2008 I submitted five paintings to the Society of Botanical Artists (SBA) Open Exhibition and all five were selected—two were sold. In 2009, I submitted my second set of five paintings to the SBA. Again all five were selected and I have been elected as an Associate member of the SBA. My first entry in the MIWAS 2008 10th Anniversary Exhibition was sold.
Circa April 2009: work to be displayed in the The Darryl Nantais Gallery, 59 High Street, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4HS
I am still building up my port folio as a professional artist, but have been fortunate enough to be interviewed by the local press who described my work as ‘nature immortalised in print’ and ‘exquisite botanicals’. As well as printing my own limited editions on my large format printer (and having purchased the equipment necessary to collate and bind), I decided to design and produce calendars based on my work. I usually print a limited edition of 300 calendars. I also design and print my own range of cards, notebooks and bookmarks. The calendars, prints, and other items are available from this website.
EXHIBITIONS AND DISPLAYS (2009):
Impington Village College PSFA Annual Exhibition. Saturday 14 February to Wednesday 18 February 2009. Impington Village College, Impington, Cambridge. Opening times: Saturday, Private Viewing 7.00–9.00pm; Sunday, 2.30–6.00pm; Monday, 2.00–4.00 & 7.00–9.00pm; Tuesday, 2.00–4.00 & 7.00–9.00pm; Wednesday, 2.00–4.00pm. Secretary: Hill Stewart, 01223 233692
Hills Road Sixth Form College APF Annual Art Exhibition and Sale. Thursday, 26th March 7.00 to 9.00pm (Private Viewing to be opened by Athony Green, RA); Friday, 27th March 11.00am to 8.00pm; Saturday, 28th March 11.00am to 6.00pm. Organiser: Trevor Smith 01223 235052, 07717 828755 atrevorsmith@aol.com. (Association of Parents and Friends information)
Society of Botanical Artists Annual London Open Exhibition. Friday 24 April to Sunday 5 May 2009. The Lecture Hall, Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London SW1. Opening times: Daily from 10am to 5pm including Sundays. Free Admission. Society of Botanical Artists
The Scarecrow Group Craft Fayre: 16th May 2009, Main Hall Little Paxton. Organiser: Jacqueline Clarke, Tel: 01480 219132, email: Jacqueline.clarke63@ntlworld.com
Cambridge Open Studios July Exhibition: STUDIO OPEN, 18 HARBOUR AVENUE, COMBERTON, CAMBRIDGE CB23 7DD. 11–12, 18–19 July 2009. Tel: 01223 262962; mobile 07802 708 028; Enquiries by email to: tina@tinabonedtp.co.uk
Marwell International Wildlife Art Society (MIWAS) Open Exhibition 2009 (26th to 30th August 2009). www.miwas.co.uk Marwell Hall, Marwell Wildlife Park, Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire SO21 1JH.
Thursday 27th August to Sunday 30th August. Special Guest Evening Wednesday 26 August With the BBC Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009 finals and awards to be hosted by MIWAS. How stupid am I? I entered the competition and my Jade Vine with Bat was chosen amongst the 122 final paintings (from 700 submitted), and I was cordially invited to take it to Marwell for final judging. However, upon checking the SMALL PRINT(!) I realised my picture was bigger than the size allowed - so a wonderful opportunity missed (and we all know the moral here!). Private view for MIWAS Annual Exhibition is Thursday and Friday, 27 and 28th August.
Picturecraft Gallery, 23 Lees Yard, Off Bull Street, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6HS.
3 September to 7 October 2009. Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm. Thursdays 9.00am to 1.000pm only. 01263 711040. Contact: Adrian Hill.
Web: www.picturecraftgallery.com, Email : info@picturecraftgallery.com
St Mary's Church, Hardwick Arts and Craft Exhibition 2009. Private viewing Friday, 18th September 6.00pm to 9.00pm; Exhibition open Saturday19th September to Monday 21st September: Saturday 12 noon to 6.00pm, Sunday 2.00pm to 6.00pm, Monday, 12 noon to 4.30pm. Contact Miss T. Westbury on 01954 210321.
PROVISIONAL: CB2 Bistro, 5/7 Norfolk Street, Cambridge, Restaurant Café Internet Live Music, Poetry, Art, Cinema, Wireless Internet. October/November 2009 (dates to be confirmed). Opening times: DAILY UNTIL MIDNIGHT. Dining Room : 01223 508503. Web:www.cb2bistro.com, Email : cb2@cb1.com
St Mary's Church Art Exhibition, Comberton 2009 December 2009.
CARDS AND NOTEBOOKS NOW AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE AT PAXTON PITS NATURE RESERVE:
Paxton Pits Nature Reserve website
The Friends of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve:
Chairman, Ray Matthews, 01480 215277
Treasurer, John Knight, 01480 394844
Membership enquiries, Marilyn McDonough, 01480 351823
Sale of Calendars & cards: Conkers Stores & Post Office, Barton, Cambridge (continuing).
Forthcoming - work to be displayed in the The Darryl Nantais Gallery, 59 High Street, Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4HS. Telephone: 01223 891289 Opening time: Tuesday - Friday 10a.m.-3p.m. Saturday 12 - 4p.m
Enquiries by email to: Karl Backhurst
Gallery Website.
Canvas, Drawing, Oils, Pen & Ink, Pen And Wash, Pencil/Charcoal, Print, Watercolour, Watercolour Pencil
Animals, Botanical Illustration, Buildings, Decorative Art, Fantasy, Figure, Flowers And Gardens, Illustration, Landscape, Life Drawing, Pet Portrait, Portrait, Seascapes and Water, Still Life, Trees and Foliage, Waterways and Canals, Wild Flowers, Wildlife
Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom Mainland