Gina Emmett

I have been painting and drawing since primary school - mostly animals and horses in particular. Later, at the small village comprehensive in Market Lavington, near Devizes where I lived, I would often be found in the art room at lunchtimes happily painting away on my own. Myself and 5 others were put into our Art O level at 14 as an experiement and 3 of us received A grades and three B grades, a testament to our brilliant teacher Ellie Gilbert!! I so very nearly went to Salisbury College of Art and Technology (as it was known then) but had a fit of conscience about getting a "proper job" and ended up studying at Trowbridge Tech as a secretary (although in my spare lessons, I would again be found in the art room!!). After college, I pretty much stopped doing any art until I moved down to Verwood in the late 80s when I re-discovered my passion at evening classes with a fantastic teacher called Mavis Rowe at Ringwood school. Mavis introduced me to pastels, oils and watercolours - although not the beautifully delicate watercolours you often see - oh no - let's slap it on and see what happens - much more me!!! However, again, another period of not touching a paintbrush or pencil ensued for some 12 odd years while I pursued my career in IT at Chase Manhattan Bank. I then, in a fit of enthusiasm, enrolled at Poole College for a recreational life drawing class and WHAM! I found my favourite subject - the human body. What a design achievement by good old Mother Nature, mechanical yet soft, strong yet vulnerable, different poses, expressions and gestures, so much to record! I loved it so much, I re-enrolled three times, the last time being a City & Guilds life drawing examination course. This lasted a year and involved tons of course work and assessments - I was pleased to have passed yet, it was so much fun, I (almost) wouldn't have minded if I hadn't. However, I find as I'm getting older, I'm more reticent and scared about making mistakes and am not so brave as I once was with my work - but, as an old boss once said to me "those who don't make mistakes don't make anything!!"