“Colour is food for my soul.” In conversation with Simon Pizzey.
I love the five valleys and surrounding hills for the inspiration they provide, ever changing through the seasons. I see walking though the hills and valleys as a feast of hues and patterns.
Evocative, repetitious lines and marks of the landscape reminding me of childhood textiles, patchwork shapes and tasty colour. My walks are my escapism – I look to the distance and often imagine places I would like to explore. I search for shapes, colours and lost horizons to draw from and paint.
My paintings are largely inspired by my love for Stroud’s five green valleys. I find the hills so nurturing.
I started painting landscapes in lockdown having previously spent twenty-five years as a secondary school art teacher. This career gave me a wealth of inspiration in terms of landscape painters- I really admire David Hockney and Peter Doig.
Painting has enabled me to build my own language of expression, creating marks and layers of colour and texture to describe the views which frame my life…I like to find shapes which sing out like jewels of colour and translate them into my own painted creations.
With my sketchbook and camera, I record motifs and details. Having studied for a textile degree, it is the elements of pattern and colour which I am initially attracted to.
I translate my sketches in the studio, exploring abstraction and layering of materials. It is a joy to paint. I love using colour – colour is food for my soul.
Stroud is important to me. I moved here aged five from Devon. My grandmother’s family were farmers in Randwick. As a child I loved hearing my Gran talk about life on the farm and her time as a child playing in Randwick woods in the early 1920s. Also, her stories, including having a weekly bath at the town baths with the other local girls, who also worked as hairdressers on Gloucester Street. I love Stroud’s rich inclusive and creative heritage.
Favourite Photograph
In 1979 I visited Naxos. I felt amazing space and freedom when we arrived from the port on a vegetable truck. I went back in 2015 and took this photo as a reminder.
I love the shadow of the olive trees on the front of the building. Love the sky going from light blue to deep blue. I like being reminded of walks I’ve taken, and we did one around the bay including the church.
Favourite Object
I’ve always loved having objects around me, it’s like wrapping yourself in a patchwork blanket. I’m very drawn to objects associated with history and vintage things.
There are so many, it’s near impossible to choose one. But, if there was a fire it would be my sketch books I’d grab first, they are a visual diary of my life and precious to me.
I walked a lot during lockdown. My go-to walks are on the Stroud Commons, Rodborough is a favourite. I love that you can climb up and see such great views in all directions. You can see the River Severn and Wales in the distance it makes me feel like an ant on a map.
The painting I’m doing at the moment is a view looking down from Selsley Common to Selsley Church and Ebley. I sat up there with a friend, my paintings are like diary entries. I look in the landscape to see where people I know feature in it.
Buildings are really important – I’m interested in the negative spaces between them and also the gaps between branches of trees.
If you are thinking of painting or just starting, just keep going. If you have a passion you will find your own dialogue and way of expressing yourself to the world.
Up and coming events and information.
Open Studios in June I’m part of a group event with The Union Street Collective in The Cornhill, Stroud.
I teach two days a week at Pegasus Arts, a sketch book session and an evening of drawing and painting.
My website is at https://www.lucyinder.co.uk/
People can always come to my studio by appointment to see my work.
I’m also part of The Autumn Trail in Stroud in October.
Words and pictures by Simon Pizzey
