Janet Cutts

I have always wanted to put paint to paper and dabbled in art for many years. There was never the opportunity for me to study art at school as I went down the science route. After a long career in the health service and then in education and a busy family life it wasn’t really until Covid that I had the time to really study art techniques seriously and I found a fabulous teacher who taught on line with live tuition. This was groundbreaking for me and so it was in my early seventies that I really made progress. Learning the techniques required and having time to practice was my Covid gift. After three years with this tutor he declared me “an artist” when I decided to go my own way. What I enjoy most is painting scenes that represent places you might instantly recognise. I was encouraged to try all media but was always really drawn to watercolours as they continue to surprise me with the quirky way colours mix in so many ways. I love the muted colours you can get and the way soft and hard edges develop on their own sometimes. I always use really good paint, paper and brushes which make for better, more stable colours. During Covid we were, as a couple, rather remote and finding things to do so we had a summer house delivered in bits and spent a lot of time getting it prepared and ready for us to erect. We did it all on our own except for putting on the roof which was simply too heavy. That complete, I have my studio. Small but perfectly formed situated in the corner of my garden. We are now in our late seventies and enjoy going places in our caravan. Particularly enjoying the beautiful countryside and coastal places where I find my inspiration. Derbyshire and Yorkshire being mostly where I like to be. We had a sailing yacht on the South Coast for many years and have many lovely memories and old photos I can use for reference. Retirement is now a joy and I am very fortunate to have the time to paint and travel as we do. I also enjoy gardening and a bit of ballroom dancing to keep us as active as possible. I really like to think that buyers of my work get as much pleasure from it as I do in it’s creation. It’s like selling a puppy that you have raised and will miss. I like to see it as an opportunity to paint another picture.