Maggie Read

I am a professional artist with a background in illustration and a long career as an Adult Learning tutor. I have organised and run Pirbright Art CLub since I created it, 21 years ago. I've specialised in teaching drawing skills in all media, including pastels, and have taught watercolour painting to students of all levels for many years. I also ran portrait classes at Woking ALC, which were always fully subscribed. Using live models and photographs, I taught learners all aspects of drawing and painting the human head and face. I now run my own painting classes for intermediate and advanced learners, as well as organising painting holidays in the West country. I continue to develop my own painting style and I exhibit with other local groups. My own work is often experimental - using various media together: watercolour with pen or pastel; acrylic inks with acrylic paint; water-mixable oils on an acrylic base. I like using smooth gesso-boards or clayboards. Subjects from landscape to still-life are of interest but I like to include figures or animals to add life and movement. Strong drawing combined with impressionistic painting is a favourite technique.