Lesley Crawford

After being a watercolour and graphite pencil artist for many years, I discovered coloured pencils in 1997 and took to them immediately. At the time I was producing mainly natural history artwork. Although I still prefer the translucency of watercolour for flowers, I incorporate the pencils very much in the work, finding they work beautifully with the paint. I use them exclusively for animal work, and clients for my pet commissions are amazed at the detail that can be achieved in portraying their beloved animals.

I also began to use them for human portraiture, finding the slow build up and accuracy ideal for this subject. Using loose watercolour as a background and base, I enjoy producing fantasy portraits and paintings with the pencils.

I was delighted to meet up with other coloured pencils artists on the Web, and find that I was not alone. It was a great pleasure to be a Founder Member of the UKCPS, and watch the increase in numbers of people who also love this medium. For three years I was Editor of the quarterly journal "Talking Point".

I have been teaching Drawing and Painting in Adult Education for many years now, and coloured pencils have proved a popular medium for many of the students. Once a year I teach several workshops at Knuston Hall in Northamptonshire, and since moving to Scotland in November 2002, I am helping to make the coloured pencil popular there by giving lectures to art societies and holding workshops in various venues. (see list on Workshops page).

To see my work or commission a painting, please visit my website at www.gaia-art.co.uk or contact me at crawford[at]angus112.fsnet.co.uk

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