Paintingscenes: May 2014

About Me

I came originally from Bradford in Yorkshire, moving to Cornwall when I was 11 years old. I spent a few years in Belgium, Germany and then back to England before finally moving to Cornwall again in 1989 where I have been ever since.

Now retired, I have been able to concentrate on painting. I completed an HND in Illustration in 1992 at what was then Falmouth School of Art and Design but practiced as an illustrator for only a short while.

I belong to the Society of Feline Artists, exhibiting with them at regional exhibitions and at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in London where we hold our annual exhibition in August/September.

My aim has always been to get away from illustration and approach my chosen subject from a more creative and personal point of view. Having said that, a possible exception to this would be cat paintings which tend to be more illustrative especially commissions. Clients want their cats to be recognisable!

Contrast in light and shade, composition and perspective are important factors in my work. I have a natural tendency to concentrate on detail and this is what I want to get away from. Larger brushes and palette knives helped! Some detail is fine but an element of abstraction is desirable, giving the viewer the chance to use their imagination in at least part of the painting.

I hope you enjoy the paintings on show. Some of them are for sale so do please email me if you are interested in any of them.

dianne.whitney@btconnect.com

Saturday, 17 May 2014