ELECTED ARWS 2017 & RWS 2018
Gertie began painting as a child, inventing comics, pretend photos, imaginary maps and dream paintings. At 18 she went on to study at Hornsey School of Art. Over the years she has held a variety of jobs but has always continued with her secret love of painting; filling in a series of ‘scribble books’ with her bright, imaginative pieces. Following her retirement Gertie started entering and winning various national and other open art competitions finally successfully applying for membership of the Royal Watercolour Society.
Each of Gertie’s paintings is like a little journey that makes its way out into the unknown. The images that arise are based on a mixture of observation, emotional memory and imagination. Ultimately her pieces often deal with the meeting of opposites: whether near or far, natural or man-made, mundane or celestial, personal or global. Fairy stories, poems, dreams, imaginary or real objects and places all provide her with a constant stream of ideas.
Gertie has firmly established her position as an artist in the UK, having participated in a variety of National competitions and exhibitions such as: the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, the National Open Art competition, the RWS' Contemporary Watercolour Competition, the Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition, the Sunday Times Watercolour competition, the New English Art Club exhibition, the Royal Society of British Artists exhibition, the Royal Institute of painters in watercolour exhibition and the Royal Watercolour Society where, after becoming a member she also became the society treasurer. Her paintings can be found in private collections in the USA, Oman, Israel, Switzerland, Germany, France and Spain as well as here in the UK.
Gertie currently lives and works in South London.
