Biography of Lynn Gould BA Hons

"I was born in 1964 in Leigh-on-sea, Essex, although my family moved to Sussex in 1976, where I still reside. It was also at this age of 12 years old that I produced my very first painting, which was of a puffin on a cliff. I also remember sketching sparrows in the garden, which were my first attempts at drawing from life.

From 1983, I studied at Wimbledon School of Art, graduating in 1986 with a BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art.

For ten years after graduating (1986 - 1996) I was a fulltime freelance artist and illustrator, painting numerous and varied commissions and drawing illustrations for two canine books. During this time, I was also fortunate to be involved in several group exhibitions in Sussex and sold a variety of non-figurative and figurative work, and miniature landscapes.

I currently work part time and paint part time, which has enabled me to abandon the commissioned work and explore and develop a new perspective for my art.

My paintings have always had an emphasis on the exploration of colour and were, until some six years ago, the primary objective of my work through a non-figurative (constructivist) format. I was unsatisfied with the way this work was going, as th intention behind the it was becoming lost, and I made a decision to revert to a figurative format.

It seems ironic that on arriving at a crossroads with my work, I have been drawn back to the creative roots displayed with those first artistic attempts first mentioned. I have taken the early sparrow sketching on into a keen interest in bird watching, which has provided the main focus of my photographic work. Therefore it seemed natural that this subject could also hold possible directions to explore in terms of painting.

Through both the photographs and the paintings and pastels, I try to explore not only the character of the bird, but also a suggested narrative, a captured moment in time. My passion for exploring colours is begining to resurface and I am currently working on ideas for future non-figurative work to run alongside the figurative paintings.

I am the proud owner of Hartley and Bonnie, two delightful American Cocker puppies. I enjoy dog training in my spare time and have taken them to dog shows around the country, Hartley has won Puppy Group and Group 2 at Coulsdon Open Show, September 2007, and has numerous "Best Puppy"s to his name, and also placings at Championship level. I have an immensely sympathetic rapport with animals and welcome commissioned pet portraiture. Please see an example of my work and contact me if you are interested in capturing a moment of your pet's life on canvas or on film.