"I'm so lucky to be able to say I paint pictures for a living"

MEET VICKY

'So you want to know a little more about me. Well where do I begin...'

I'm a Yorkshire lass, who loves the Country side and Painting. I've always been involved with art in one form or another, starting my working life in the family profession of photography before expanding into the Picture Framing business. It was here that I once again became inspired to pick up my paints after having spent years framing art for other artists.

I love the great outdoors and nature and like nothing more than pottering in my garden, or walking in the countryside on my doorstep, exploring the flora and fauna and doing a bit of foraging as I go. It's during these expeditions that I often pick up a lot of inspiration for my paintings. Although I am known for painting bright colourful, quirky animals I also like to dabble in a bit of landscape and floral art, especially dramatic skies and colourful flowers.

THE PAINTING PROCESS

''I love seeing the smiles on peoples faces when they look at my Art. It's what makes me love my job so much. We all need a little something to bring a bit of joy into our lives'....

– Vicky Whitlam - artist

My main choice of media is acrylic paints on watercolour paper, although I do like to be a bit experimental using other media. I love colour and like nothing better than adding bright splashes of colour into my paintings to really make them pop and bring them to life.

When I first begin a painting I usually start with a very rough pencil sketch. It's not until I begin the process of building up the layers of paint that the painting starts to come to life. But it's the eyes that really make the character of the animal. Once these are painted in, I know exactly what type of character they have as they stare back at me and know instinctively how the painting is going to develop