ARTIST INFORMATION

Zoe McMillan

'Painting in waterbased media is one of the great joys of my life, together with music. I am particularly drawn to still life as a subject and enjoy putting together groups of objects, which may have a common theme or may be quite disparate, but which sit well together. China, glass, lace, patterned fabrics and vegetables often form a starting point for a still life set-up.

In my job I deal with historic buildings day by day, but soon discovered that a training in technical drawing did not necessarily enable me to draw and paint buildings to my own satisfaction. It is only within the last year that I have felt ready to paint buildings, but have found that it is essential to depict them in strong lighting conditions, as the interplay of light and dark is crucial to the interest of the painting. Churches are a special interest, both in my job and in my art./

I play the bassoon, and although I am involved in playing at least three times a week, I have not yet found a way of combining music with painting, in terms of subject matter, apart from in the most literal terms. When not playing myself, I enjoy sketching other players.'

 

ZOË McMILLAN is a Chartered Building Surveyor working for English Heritage, who started painting about sixteen years ago. Encouraged by early success in the medium of Chinese Brush Painting under the tutelage of Pauline Cherrett, she went on to try watercolours, which were her original choice; her first tutor was Lesley Hollands, and she regularly attends courses run by Margaret Merritt. All three artists continue to be an inspiration.

Zoë has won prizes for both Chinese Brush paintings and watercolours, but over the past two or three years she has been working more extensively in watersoluble dyes and mixed media and has recently begun working in acrylic inks. In 2007 one of her mixed media paintings was Highly Commended in The Artist/Leisure Painter national competition.

Over the last ten years Zoë has taken part in six group shows, mostly held at Burgh House, Hampstead, and in July 2008 she will hold her first solo exhibition at the Barbican Library.

View art from Zoe McMillan