Country upbringing was inspiration for animal art

2:20pm Thursday 23rd November 2006

FARMER'S daughter Cathryn Edwards produces her own kind of animal magic . . . as an artist.

She was born at Cherry Orchard Farm, Stretton-on-Fosse, and her first painting was of a cow with very large udders. Her mum still has it somewhere.

"I've been painting since I was a child," said Cathryn, who works under her maiden name of Cathryn Lucy Bellew.

"I used to use the kitchen table at the farm and it would be a constant battle for space with my mum, who was trying to cook the family meals. Eventually, my parents built me a loft studio at the farm to try and get me out of the kitchen so mum could have her table back, but I always went back down there. Now I fight my husband for space - he's got no chance of reaching his computer at the moment.

"I just love painting, it's my passion. I never advertise for commissions and it isn't really a business, although I'd love to be able to do it full time."

Cathryn concentrates on painting animals and, as well as the farmyard animals she knows so well, she paints pets and uses a variety of mediums.

"I use pastels predominantly for dog portraits because I am able to get the eyes to sparkle and the noses to shine," she explained.

"My cows and pigs tend to be very nosey. The haracter of the animal is always in its heads and shoulders. Every dog is different and has its own personality."

She also uses watercolours, which are particularly good for pigs judging by the painting I saw in a sneak preview.

Cathryn is hold an exhibition of her paintings on Saturday at the Joseph Webb Hall in Mickleton, where she lives with husband Bruce, a logistics manager who will turn picture hanger and salesman for the event.

Open from 11am to 4pm, the exhibition will feature 40 of her animal portraits and some local scenes.

Although Cathryn studied art for GCSE and A-Level, she gave up a place at Cheltenham College to work at Cotswold Art Supplies in Stow.

"I'd been working there as a Saturday girl and I just loved it," she said. "Working in an art shop means I'm blessed with the opportunity to experiment with many mediums.

"I earn my bread and butter as a picture framer, but I paint as often as I can. I've learned so much on the job and from seeing other people's work.

"We've framed everything here, from paintings to boxing gloves - they were antique - and even an England rugby shirt from the World Cup-winning team. We get a lot of football shirts as well.

Special "People frame all sorts of things that are special to them. I've even framed a beautiful scarf from Venice. We can do a variety of frames, from bare woods to gilt and complex, painted frames."

Naturally, Cathryn does all her own framing, using double mounts and different colours to show her work to its best advantage and to suit the buyer's' pockets.

"I don't have aspirations to be an international artist and have huge exhibitions," she said. "I just love the pleasure of doing it and of seeing people's faces when you've painted their pet and you know you've got it right."