Judith MacKay, Benington, Hertfordshire, England
Member Since November 2009
Artist Statement I was born in Hertfordshire England in September 1943. I went to Art School in Banbury, Oxfordshire where I did my GCEs and A levels and City Guilds exams before starting work in London in late 1960. In 1999 I gained my diploma to teach IT, a strategy that can be applied to any subject you thoroughly understand and are fully conversant with.
I live in the very picturesque village of Benington in Hertfordshire, England, about 30 miles from the centre of London. We are surrounded by fields and woodland that is home to an amazing variety of wildlife including birds of prey and fallow deer. Great topics for painting.
Although I have been painting since childhood it was not until I joined a Local Art Group in September 2006 that I began to paint on a regular basis and with the aid of Anne Leonard, our Tutor, develop as an artist.
Inspiration for my work comes from my visits in 2004/2005 to Drifters Game Lodge in Balule Nature Reserve, Hoedspruit , South Africa and my daughter Fiona’s recent visits to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Madagascar. I have also used The Italian Grand Prix at Monza and more recently Mojacar, Spain for subjects.
I lived in Florence at the end of the sixties I gained invaluable knowledge through a course on the History of Art from Byzantine period to present day (that was 1969). It was wonderful to visit the museums and art galleries and gaze at works by Michelangelo and Raphael and of course numerous others. I have always taken advantage of visiting Art Galleries and shows where I am as it is interesting to see the style and techniques used. To this end I am constantly pursuing my love of painting, as I strongly believe that you never stop learning.
Since retiring in September last year I have attended a number of art courses and workshops and recently joined the Benington Art Group here in my village, where artist James Willis regularly gives demonstrations and advice on various painting techniques. Another local artist Lupe Cunha introduced me to contemporary landscape painting, which I enjoy.
I have exhibited at a number of local Art Shows and submitted my work at London’s Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and have more exhibitions planned for 2010.
I am also a silk painter and a member of The Guild of Silk Painters.
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