Ann Whitfield

I was born in the North of England, but exiled to the far south by the demands of family and work for twenty years. I returned in 2002 and now live in Teesdale in the North Pennines.

I am totally inspired and exhilarated by the drama and bleakness of the landscape of the hills. I seek to share the sense of awe and joy it evokes, rather than taking a purely illustrative approach. The paintings feature the high moors and fells, and are often appreciated by walkers, climbers and others who have an intimate knowledge of the landscape.

I work from sketches and photographs, making further drawings in the studio before embarking on a painting in acrylics. I paint on paper, and often used collage to build up textures and create highlights. I love to use clear, bright colours straight from the tube, adding depth to layers of transparent paints. Other media are often incorporated, most often charcoal and soft or oil pastels.

Although I have been painting for many years, I began to paint professionally in 2008, and have been part of the Teesdale Open Studios and the Teesdale Artists' Network since their inception. I have exhibited at many venues throughout the North East, and also have pictures on permanent display at my home in Barnard Castle.