Gilliflower Expressions

I started to paint in Feb 2005

To answer the question frequently asked; “why have the name GilliFlower?”

I chose this for several reasons. One of the most obvious is that I sign my name Gilli.

My friend Anni suggested GilliFlower as an identity for my work and when I investigated the etymology of GilliFlower, it seemed wholly appropriate for me.


GilliFlower, I discovered, was an old world generic term for brightly coloured flowers. One in particular it referred to was Matthiola incana (or the Stock) I have a degree in Biology, mainly studying plant physiology, and a love of flowers. Taking all these interests in to account and remembering that the last flowers I gave to my late father , hours before he died, were in fact heavily scented stocks, GilliFlower was an obvious and meaningful expression of many key elements of my life.

I first became interested in Art through the medium of the camera.

But I found that there would be many occasions when the camera wasn't to hand or it could not express a magical moment in a way that was meaningful to me.

So I started to create my own record of events in pencil and watercolour. I was hooked and attended a number of residential courses:

• Rosie Britton: mixed media and acrylic, in Dorset. To visit Rosie Britton just CLICK HERE
  
  
• Noel McCready: watercolour, Losehill, Derbyshire
  
  
• Charles Evans: watercolour and watercolour pencils, Norfolk
  
  
• Tim Rose: Pear Tree Farm, Derbyshire. To visit Tim Rose just CLICK HERE

Still eager to progress I attended Cumbria Institute of the Arts.

As a member of the SAA, I am the proud recipient of a community art project bursary. This will be awarded at the annual 'Arts in Action' event in Waterperry, July 2007. To visit SAA just CLICK HERE

I am also a member of Rochdale Artists.
To visit Rochdale Artists just CLICK HERE

Recently I became a volunteer worker for John Whyman who teaches watercolour to the vulnerable in the community via a simple template technique he has developed over his 17 years of volunteering.

I have found that not only are my 'creations' highly regarded by friends and colleagues, but that Art is now my life and I work in a variety of media - Watercolour, Pastels, Oil, Ink and Graphite.

I have now moved on to create more expressive paintings and found that art is both liberating and very rewarding.

I also have a link page that can be found at Ken Bromley Art Supplies. To visit Ken Bromley's website just CLICK HERE