Jackie Curtis

I started to paint and draw seriously in my teens continuing through university producing posters and artwork for events and magazines. My first job took me to Cumbria where I started to use watercolours finding inspiration in the magnificent landscape around me. When I moved to Somerset I was drawn to the levels, the iconic Tor, majestic willows and wildlife. I am also influenced by our travels always carrying a sketch book and camera to jot down ideas and to capture the scenes around me. I love painting with watercolours, they are so immediate and lively (although unforgiving). The colours are vibrant and can be built up to give real depth. I have also developed a fascination with printmaking – it is a fabulous experience lifting the paper from a printing block to reveal a new creation. I enjoy the spontaneity of monoprints building movement into the ink with sticks, rags, feathers and cotton buds. My collagraphs use glue and materials such as hessian, veneers, reeds, lace and wood grain to build contrasts in texture. I also enjoy more precise printmaking techniques producing more structured bold designs and patterns in linocuts, woodblocks and reduction prints.