PicturePie

Around 10 years ago I discovered I had cancer, it was Hodgkin's Disease and I had it bad. I had stage 4 which is the worst you can get, as one nurse told me later (when I was well again) I was the only stage 4 patient she had seen still walking around. Anyway during this time in hospital and at home I found art helped take my mind off the pain and discomfort. I found painting a watercolour landscape (some samples below) or a stipple picture could take me away for hours. From being little I had always enjoyed art but it was during this time with cancer that I really got into it. I started painting with watercolours producing and selling many landscape and portrait. Later in life I went to art college to get some qualifications in art so I could work in this area. It was at this time when I discovered the use of computers in art. I was not new to computers having had my own computer and a couple of city & guilds qualifications in them but I had never thought to use them for art and graphic work. I developed my skills on the computer and eventually got quite confident. Once I left college I went on to work teaching art and computer art & graphics to people recovering from mental illness. I held this position for 10 years developing the computer section and my skills all the time. Later I went to work for a short 6 month stint as a graphic designer designing a product catalogue until the graphic department closed leaving me redundant. It was at this time I decided to take up graphic design full time and that is were I am today. I am still learning of course but I hope to be able to meet new people out there and develop my skills further ready to write the next chapter in my life.