Amanda Swannick
Amanda's art reflects her lifelong love of open spaces, explored under changing skies, surrounded by the diversity of nature. She knows the places she paints intimately and visits them frequently, taking time to observe and marvel at the complexity of nature.
Amanda has built a mental map of specific trees, favourite places and an understanding of the lie of the land, recording a sense of moving through the landscape.
Memory plays a part too, a free-range childhood, love of Ladybird books, Observer books and the school nature table. All these influences bring a sense of nostalgia to her use of colour and choice of subject. She finds solace in nature and in a fast-paced world of sometimes chaotic change, the soothing natural pace of rural spaces is increasingly important.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist as we grow up.” – Picasso
Amanda has always loved creating and making, and grew up in a family that could knit, sew, build or make you anything. She can remember not being able to read but can’t remember not being able to draw. She was fortunate to have inspirational and encouraging teachers, many of whom were artists themselves, at a time when self-expression was a valued part of education and studied art, specialising in textile design, at degree level, before becoming a late arrival to art teaching.
After years of encouraging others to develop their talents and realise their potential, Amanda left teaching to continue her own journey as a landscape artist, based at her home studio in Bridgnorth, Shropshire.