Saudi Arabia records over 21,000 residency, labor, and border violations in latest inspections    PIF seeks to expand US investments despite restrictions, says governor Al-Rumayyan Saudi sovereign fund launched 103 companies across 13 sectors, aims to attract more foreign talent to Saudi Arabia    Saudi minister holds high-level talks at FII Miami to boost AI, tech, and space partnerships    Saudi Media Forum concludes with key industry partnerships and award recognitions    Hamas hands over six Israeli captives in latest prisoner exchange    US and Ukraine near deal granting US mineral rights in exchange for military aid    Israeli forensic institute confirms remains of hostage Shiri Bibas    Australia presses China for answers over reported live-fire exercises near its coast    Al-Ettifaq stuns Al-Nassr with late winner as Ronaldo protests refereeing decisions    King Salman: Our nation's path has remained steadfast since its founding    Imam Mohammed bin Saud: The founder of the First Saudi State and architect of stability    King Abdul Aziz: Founder of the Third Saudi State and leader of modern Saudi Arabia    'Neighbors' canceled again, two years after revival    Al-Tuwaijri: Not a single day has passed in Saudi Arabia in 9 years without an achievement Media professionals urged to innovate in disseminating Kingdom's story to the world    Proper diet and healthy eating key to enjoying Ramadan fast    Saudi Media Forum panel highlights Kingdom's vision beyond 2034 World Cup    AlUla Arts Festival 2025 wraps up with a vibrant closing weekend    Al Hilal secures top spot in AFC Champions League Elite, set to face Pakhtakor in Round of 16    Al-Ettifaq's Moussa Dembélé undergoes surgery, misses rest of the season    'Real life Squid Game': Kim Sae-ron's death exposes Korea's celebrity culture    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    









British botanical art helps forget global recession
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 04 - 02 - 2013


Tim Saunders

“My paintings of flowers are very cyclical,” says Sean Curley, the British oil painter. “They go in cycles of popularity and as people become really fed up with the global economic situation they look for something that cheers them up — the beauty of flowers makes them very happy,” he explains.
Curley has been painting flowers for the past 13 years and his success snowballed after he produced four large works for a UK gallery. “The owner of another gallery saw them and bought all four,” he recalls. “And then over a three-year period he proceeded to buy hundreds more from me.”
Curley's work is now exhibited in countless galleries throughout the UK as varied as Wimbledon Fine Art in London and the Quarr Gallery in Swanage, but his work can also be seen at the Corte-Real Gallery in the Algarve, Portugal.
“I have always wanted my work to be enjoyed by an international audience,” he says, adding that his work can be viewed on his website, www.seancurleyfineart.co.uk.
Quintessentially English
It is “the natural interweaving of plant forms” that makes watercolorist Susie Lidstone “especially obsessive” about the flowers she paints.
“Patterns in plant forms are quite abstract in their formation,” explains the artist, who is inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the Scottish architect, designer, water colorist and artist.
“I love roses, which are quintessentially English — sometimes people think they are an old person's flower but that's not the case at all. I am also enjoying painting orchids and anemones at the moment. I suppose you might call my work realistic abstract — you can get lost in the movement of flowers as you paint them.”
Depending on the size and intricacy of a painting, it can take Susie between a week and a month to produce a piece, many of which can be viewed on her website, www.susielidstone.com. But flowers don't necessarily need to be painted with botanical detail, according to watercolorist Ali Lindley, who specializes in this particular field.
Freedom of expression
“My former career as a florist has undoubtedly given me an instinctive appreciation of floral forms in their artistic sense, allowing a freedom of expression,” she says. A member of the Society of Women Artists and the Society of Floral Painters, she exhibits with both on a regular basis and her work can be seen at www.alilindleyartist.co.uk.
All three artists are keen to exhibit with galleries in Saudi Arabia and welcome approaches from collectors in the Middle East. Their profiles can be seen at www.creativecoverage.co.uk where they can be contacted directly. — SG


Clic here to read the story from its source.