I paint, draw , print and collage. I think of myself as a painter-printmaker.
I have made things for as long as I can remember. My father was a civil engineer, so having been brought up in the middle of the West African bush, where friends were few, it was a necessity to be able to entertain myself rather than an option. As a child I printed and collaged to while away the hours. I remember hanging on for dear life to a box of paper cut-out dolls, with tab clothing - remember those ? - they were about to be consigned to the dustbin when the time came to change countries .
I married a civil engineer - so not much changed ! I am lucky that I can take my 'job' with me wherever we go. Sometimes it's very lucrative, sometimes not - but it keeps me sane. More importantly - I love what I do. It's not always easy, but I feel very fortunate.
I studied Fine Art at J.J. School of Art, Bombay, and then Sir John Cass College London and Liverpool College of art, UK. I did a postgraduate course in Textile Design at Goldsmith's College, University of London. Dabbled in that for a while but got fed up with all the folders of unused/unwanted textile designs at the end of every season. Sold some, but not enough . (Liberty's and Diane von Furstenburg)
So the foundations were set - a very traditional art background . J.J. School of Art was founded in 1866 and in 1966 ,when I was there, it was run on the same lines - a strong emphasis on drawing from life - painstaking observation that may have seemed like a pain at the time but what a terrific grounding in all the basics of fine art. Quite useful really when you think that what was to follow at Liverpool was a total free-for-all, with no traditional teaching at all. No wonder many people leave art college unable to draw !
Contact : taniabeaumont@gmail.com