Rebecca's Biography
I was born in 1982, in Castleton, Derbyshire. I have painted since childhood and quickly developed a love for painting flora & fauna.
After attending College in 2000 and completing a GNVQ and A levels in Art and Design I decided to take my interest further and enrolled on a three year BA (Hons) Fine Art, Painting and Drawing Course at The University of Huddersfield.
In 2004 I attended Manchester Metropolitan University PGCE in Art and Design, in Secondary Education. Since 2005 I have been teaching Art and Design in Secondary Schools in Derbyshire and I was a Curriculum Adviser for Art and Design at an Independent Preparatory School in Sheffield.
In 2009 I realised my ultimate dream and opened my own Art Gallery. Perfect Petals is situated in the beautiful surroundings of Eyam Hall’s Craft centre. The bijou gallery is also a working studio. I can often be found there creating works of Art and offering friendly painting tips and advice. The space is dedicated to my own Art work as well as a couple of other Local Artists.
My own paintings embrace the beauty of flowers and I aspire to represent their aesthetic qualities. Scientific accuracy is not of foremost importance in my work. I have a passion for using strong vibrant colours. My paintings are directly observed from garden flowers, wild flowers and exotic blooms.
I enjoy painting in watercolour and oil paints but acrylics are my firm favourite. I build very detailed flat, smooth layers next to large expanses of flat colour. My bold floral works look striking at a distance but become even more rewarding at close range.
In 2009 I was awarded funding from the Prince's Trust which has enabled me to develop the Gallery and make use of my teaching skills by offering exclusive floral painting workshops.
"Excellent work, I like your use of dramatic colour combinations."
Mrs Jose Sidebottom
