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Stephanie Rees
Having been forced to choose between art and music at A level, I spent five years at the Royal Academy of Music studying the French Horn. Originally a classical musician, I played with the European Union Youth Orchestra for five years before settling back in London and concentrating mainly on session work, - film, televiion, recording and theatre, - with the odd concerto and orchestral date thrown in for variety!
I have now returned to Wales and live on the Gower Peninsula. I started painting in 2002 and now find that painting competes with music for my time and creative energy.
My influences are varied. Family (seeing my nephews grow) Nature-the sea in particular, and of course other artists such as David Carpinini who's work I admire immensely. I love to paint figurative scenes, normally from my imagination- the everyday aspects of life and family, right down to the packet of sweets in a child's pocket. My "flower" paintings are different, concentrating on the form, colour and energy of the flower itself rather than on its place in the world.
I find my style is changing as I begin to paint more and more. I want to avoid losing the spontaneity of my early work so I don't tend to plan my paintings. As a result, each one is often a surprise, as well as a learning curve.