MAGICAL MEANDERINGS
MAGICAL MEANDERINGS - A Vibrant Celebration of our Magical West Coast
Jilly Watson and Katie Mainwaring
Show Dates: September 25 - October 14, 2024
Artist pARTy: Saturday, September 28, 6 - 8 pm. Facebook Event
JILLY WATSON: BIO
I grew up in England and studied Art at High School for my GCE exams. My early career was teaching young children, preschool to Kindergarten, where I encouraged young children to explore art mediums.
In 2000 I retired to Bowen Island. You will very often see paths or trails in my work which are for me a strongly symbolic of the choices we make in life. When I retired from teaching I decided it was time to walk down the path towards becoming an artist – something I had at the back of my mind since my teen years.
My initial steps on this path took me to Montague, where during more than one session with Paul Deggan, I came to see many colours in the world around us, probably more than Paul would ever have imagined. I now call myself a colourist.
There have been many mentors on my journey and I have taken many workshops with artists that I admire. I am also influenced by Emily Carr and Van Gogh, who have inspired me to portray the movement and energy that surrounds us.
For me, forests are magical places but they are not static, they vibrate with energy and movement. I try to portray that movement in my trees.
My art studies have included numerous art workshops, including Capilano College’s 2003 Art Course in France. I have also studied under Marilyn Lemon, Paul Deggan, Greta Guzek, Mike Svob, Lucy Collins, Dene Croft, Marlene Lowden and Nicholas Pearce.
I taught three five day art workshops in Washington State at the Eliot Institute Creative camp and also held a number of small workshops in my home studio.
www.nsartists.ca/jillywatson
KATIE MAINWARING: BIO
Katie graduated with her High School Diploma in 2003 from Earl Marriott Seconday School in 2003 and was awarded the Buschlen-Mowatt Fine Arts scholarship. She went on to study and obtain a Diploma of Fine Arts from Capilano College Studio Arts program in 2008 where she studied art history, painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and printmaking.
She has been an associate Artist at Catching Stars Gallery from 2019 to present time.
As an emerging professional Bowen artist, Katie has recently begun painting colourful whimsical landscapes.
"My latest works are dreamy reflections of my love for nature. I really felt inspired to create local scenes, with a glaze of whimsy and surrealism."