Wendy Corbett

Biography

“Although I did art to A-level standard I never really considered it as a career option as my real ambition was to work with animals. However, as a youngster I was discouraged by teachers from doing this, who suggested that I think of a ‘real’ job instead. This was reason that I actually ended up becoming a teacher. On doing this job I found that I was not suited to it at all and subsequently left with absolutely no idea what I was going to do.” “Over a period of time I tried my hand at a variety of jobs ranging from farming to forklift truck driving, with no real sense of direction. In my late 30’s I worked with my father as a sign writer and lettering artist for a number of years, until computers and modern technology put me out of a job. Again I had to rethink what career path I wanted to take. I had been experimenting again with my art in any spare time that I had, doing animal commissions and trying out different mediums and techniques.” “It had long been a dream of mine to live by the coast and one day I made a spur of the moment decision to move to Devon, with the intention of one day becoming a full-time artist.” “My first real opportunity to show my art came when a gallery in Kingsbridge, where I live, changed hands and I plucked up the courage to go and show them my portfolio. I was delighted when the owners took some pieces to try, and I’m glad to say that, I haven’t looked back since.” “The two subjects I paint are my two great passions - wildlife and the sea. I hope that, because they stir something deep within me, I transfer that to my work. Whether I am working on wildlife drawings or pastel seascapes I tend to lose myself in my work; I become completely absorbed and the time just flies by. I study the animals I draw in great detail, from books, film, and visits to my local zoo at Paignton, who do lots of environmental and conservation work. I know the animals do not behave in the same way as they do in their natural environment, but it affords me the opportunity to observe them at close quarters. In a lot of the enclosures the only thing that separates you from the animals is a huge sheet of what I am sure is very toughened glass. At such close range you can feel the power of these magnificent creatures - who wouldn’t be inspired by this?” “The photos I use have to say something to me, I do seem to be particularly drawn to that special bond between mother and baby, there is just so much love there that it is almost tangible. I try to convey that ‘magic’ that initially inspired me and hope to make the drawing come to life.” “I started using pastels fairly recently and I’m amazed that I had neglected this wonderful medium for so many years. Pastels are instant, I can put on broad sweeps of colour and the card is transformed. I start by putting on the colours very roughly, which gives me the mood of the picture. I work on card, which has a sand texture. This suits my style as it allows me to put the pastels on quite thickly and merge them together creating a feeling of movement, which is perfect for my subject, be it clouds or sea. I put on layers of different colours and then blend them, creating either a soft feeling for the sky or rolling waves and surf of the sea - I just let it ‘happen’.” “In stark contrast, my wildlife drawing is very intense; it can take several weeks to complete one piece. I sketch in the composition very lightly and then build up the pencil working from light to dark; it is very much a continual thinking process. These pictures take much longer to come together. They can sometimes be almost finished before I know if I have got it right or not, although usually as soon as I have done the eyes it springs to life and I know if I have captured that something special - the essence of the animal.” “Using two such completely different techniques and mediums is good for me, it stops me getting stale; they compliment each other really well being such opposites.