Greg Lashmar

Biography

I live on the beautful North Essex coast at Walton on the Naze, with my wife Margaret, who is an author, and our mad cocker spaniel Jasper. Living just moments from the sea, sandy beaches and hundreds of beach huts one way and the SSSI that is the Hamford Backwaters, location of the Arthur Ransome story 'Secret Waters' - I get so much inspiration from my local surroundings, and many of my works feature locations which are just minutes from my front door. Working in watercolour, pencil and pen & watercolour (pen & wash) and occasionally acrylic, my work takes in a wide variety of subjects, from pet portraits, landscapes, seascapes, village and town scenes, and the occasional portrait too. If it takes my eye, I take a photo, or six, and then scroll through, seeing if anything will make it onto paper. At secondary school I studied graphic design to A-level and gained a good grade, but the course didn't involve much 'fine art' - instead concentrating on creating strong visuals, but relying on art technology and fledgling computer design software. However I have always had a strong creative urge, unsurprising when both of my parents also had creative flair in art, textiles and cabinet-making. For about 15 years my wife and I ran a theatrical costumiers, where I designed and made theatre costumes for innumerable productions and shows. In late 2016 I turned back to art, attending a tutor-friends' workshop for what I thought may be a tortuous day holding a paintbrush, but a day to myself, to rest my busy mind. I followed the instructions she gave me and was happy but not overjoyed with what I had painted... until I stood up. I had created something wonderful, which hangs on my wall to this day, and every day I thank goodness I went to that workshop. I now have a job which I can't wait to start and delay finishing, I love it that much!