Iris on Linen Painting

I've loved art ever since I was at school, but life got in the way and I got out of the habit of painting and drawing during my twenties. After the end of a relationship, when I was thirty, I started painting again. It took a while to regain the skills that I'd forgotten I had, but before long I was painting more and more. Oil paint is my favourite medium - I love its capacity for blending colour. And flowers are one of my favourite subjects. I've always been inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe's work, especially her floral paintings. I like the way she both used and blended colour so beautifully, and I try to replicate that to some extent in my work. I also enjoy painting landscapes. A couple of holidays to the Scottish Islands over the last few years have left me completely in love with them, especially the Outer Hebrides. As the light, and thus the colours of the landscape in the Outer Hebrides are ever changing, the same view can look completely different from one hour to the next. There is an endless source of inspiration there, and I can't wait to go back (despite the fact that I'm not keen on the ferry crossing and will be praying for calm seas!) I live in the Peak District with my two dogs, Coco and Lola. I have a small studio set up at home, where I happily while away the hours painting with Coco and Lola dozing nearby; I get totally absorbed in my art, and time just flies!