I started painting relatively recently in 2018. So far I’ve worked mostly with acrylic paints and mixed media. I love the freedom and spontaneity I get from painting. Experimenting with various techniques and mediums is a process of creative exploration with many discoveries and delights along the way.
I moved to Sidmouth from the Waveney Valley in Suffolk – a very different landscape to that of East Devon! I love both counties and am inspired by the moods and the ever changing landscapes and seascapes they offer. I’m very fortunate to live where I do, with the Jurassic coast a short walk away. I spend many hours walking along the dramatic coastal paths with my dog, these amazing seascapes inspire my paintings as do the inland landscapes of the Pebblebed Heaths at Woodbury and further afield, Dartmoor.
I’ve practised yoga for most of my life and am fascinated by the way energy moves in people and through the world we live in. Trying to capture a sense of that energy in the moods of the sea and sky plus the ever changing effect of weather on the landscapes is a tremendous challenge. I try my best to create a sense of energy in my paintings.
It’s been an adventure discovering different artists and painting methods; attending workshops with local artists and taking inspiration from their work, wisdom and teaching.
LIZ UPCHURCH – ARTIST
Originally from the North of England, I relocated to Devon some years ago. A very beautiful and diverse part of the country. I have always loved ‘arty’ things. Curious about different techniques and styles of paintings. I first started to experiment with watercolours and realised very soon I needed guidance.
In 2018 I decided to join an art group. The School of Art and Wellbeing in Honiton. It was truly inspirational, great teaching and wonderful to share and learn from so many talented artists.
It was here Barbara and I met and became good friends. After much deliberation we took the plunge in 2021 to host our first art exhibition in Beer. Which was exciting, totally nerve wracking but great fun. In 2022 we held our second exhibition in Beer and have now exhibited paintings in various venues in and around Devon.
My subjects are varied, as is the different mediums I use. Watercolours, acrylic and acrylic ink which I use in conjunction with Indian ink, using a reed instead of a paintbrush. Painting is so absorbing and a great way to relax.
