Marielle Barclay

Although born and brought up in the West of Scotland, I have spent most of my adult life here in Badenoch. The scenery and ever-changing light inspire and challenge, but I don't usually paint landscapes. My favourite subjects are flowers, presented in a more or less botanical style, rather than impressionistically. A friend informed me I 'lacked imagination'. Maybe, but it is hard enough trying to represent accurately what 'Mother Nature' does so marvellously well. I have been drawing flowers since the age of 7 or 8 - at that time using child's wax crayons - not the ideal medium! Now I mostly use watercolour or gouache, or sometimes pastel. All these materials have been much improved as regards pigments, permanence and general quality, enabling accurate colour mixing, which for me is crucial.