Terri Painting

Merrick Feagan studied art at Bradford College and passed with a distinction for her work. She had studied under the tutors Kate Rawnsley and Helen Birch whom had both encouraged and brought out the best in her. For the two years she studied at Bradford College, Merrick had dreams of attending University and graduating with a fine art degree. This dream was not to happen. As a single mother of one with no significant income and a partner who had long ago absconded, life was tough. The flat she shared with her young daughter above a greasy cafe in the village of Thornton was falling to bits and unsuitable to live in. Dreams shattered, she left University before completing her degree and took an admin job at a Criminal Defence law firm in Bradford. Although working the average 9 - 5 in an office had afforded Merrick and her young daughter better accommodation, the mundane, same shit different day kind of life merely sorting paperwork and crunching numbers slowly drove her insane and Merrick resolved to start working as an artist with no University degree. She takes the bus to work everyday after taking her daughter to school. No one is safe from the sketchbook she carries with her all the time. Quietly observing the comings and goings of people she subtly records the movements and body language of the people around her on the bus, in work, a cafe at lunch and generally when ever an opportunity to draw arises. When she finally gets home after a long day at the office she finds sanctuary and peace and passion in her living room which she has converted into her studio.