Around 2003 I became a full time artist after moving to Australia and realising that the little town we had moved to didn't need fashion designers, and to be truthful I didn't really want to be one anymore. I found myself in a small town not knowing anyone except my husband and alone for hours on end wondering how to start my life again. Lucky for me I had a pencil and a sketch book and it was with these two simple things that I created a new career and life for myself. You see with a sketch book and pencil I could join a local art class and meet new friends and learn about what was happening here in the middle of nowhere. I read the local paper and saw a competition to design a poster for a local charity and with my sketch book and pencil I entered a quick drawing and to my surprise won first prize and earned my first $100 of my art career! I took my sketch book and pencil with me to my new voluntary position at the local art gallery and was noticed by the president of the Art Society in the region who asked if I would like to join them just the act of me sketching attracted people to talk to me! As I write this down telling you now I realise how buying two simple things at a very low cost changed my life and gave me entry into the world of being an artist and has given me a career of over a decade allowed me to meet fabulous people and lets face it artists are fabulous and taken me to some great places. Upon my return to the UK in 2009, I again found myself in the position of starting my life from scratch but it was made easier by the knowledge that artists are everywhere and if I just had my sketchbook and pencil with me they would find me! And find me they have its a wonderful life! http://ruthgrayimages.net