Paulene Brakspear can’t remember
a time when she wasn’t painting and drawing.
At first, she worked mainly in oils, charcoal and
graphite, but began to look seriously at watercolour
in the late 1990s when she returned to live permanently
in the UK, having spent almost 25 years in Zimbabwe.
At that time she also took up pastels and was taught
by Yorkshire artist, David Newbould.
An experienced tutor, Paulene has worked in adult
and community education in the North East of England,
where she first settled on her return to the UK, and
where she was also involved in a number of Community
Arts Projects. She now delivers small private classes
and workshops in the garden studio of her home near
Hatfield Forest. She believes that everyone can be
taught to tap into their own ‘creative well’
and that her main subjects, of drawing, watercolour,
acrylics and pastels are teachable, learnable skills.
She also has a reputation for delivering inspiring,
challenging courses – with a big slice of fun
as a main ingredient. A video of Paulene’s methods
of teaching watercolour to absolute beginners (sponsored
by Daler-Rowney), is available and her e-‘how-to’
artbooks and online art lessons are due for release
in 2008 – go to her website www.zozoart.co.uk
and click on the ‘Tuition’ button for
more information
Paulene’s own work has developed and changed
over the years. She is greatly influenced by her surroundings,
wherever she is. Africa still pulls her back each
year and she produces many wildlife and Africa inspired
paintings, both during and following her trips overseas.
Her work is held in private collections in the UK,
Australia, Africa, Dubai, France, Spain and America.
