Although I took A level Art at an Art School, it was not an option as a career in those days - no creative jobs in the provinces. To quote the Rolling Stones "You can't always do what you wa-ant". consequently I had a gap of 40 years.

I think life choices are wasted on the young. For myself, I reluctantly ditched art at school in favour of subjects that apparently would help me find a job. So I took all the practical subjects like metalwork, woodwork, chemistry and I ended up at BT! Figure that one out. Looking back now I wish I'd pursued the art path. Although I was, and still am, a fan of the Beatles, I was only 10 when they were in their prime. My era came later with '70s Prog Rock. Happy days.

Yes that's the one Jenny. A relative of mine was doing it . That's how I found out about the course. Expensive yes but good things do not come cheap. I did try another but I seem to remember I had a different tutor with each assignment and it was not helping. Anyway got something out of it I won a competition run by the course. Thanks for your input.

John, the correspondence course was with the Famous Artists group, quite well known at the time (and not cheap, but I found them very good). The course was eventually re-started quite some time later by another company but I'd lost interest by then.

Good to see ur words on blog... If I could have been in art school I might have been painting normal things... Lol !!!!. I dont know whether I should feel good about not going to an art school or not... ☺

Jenny that sounds like you art & design. I wonder if that was the same course I enrolled in. The same thing happened. It folded after a year.

The Beatles and their music were a big part of my schooldays, but I got some bad advice from my art teacher - was told skip O Level, go straight to A Level, but when it came to starting that course was told that unless I needed the A Level for a university place (which I didn't) I'd enjoy the more general art course better. So, no art qualifications, but did a few years later get accepted for art college, but was about to get married and decided I couldn't afford not to work, so didn't take it up. Did, though, start a two-year correspondence course in commercial art and design, which I was really enjoying, but the company running it folded about a year in, so that was the end of that!

Adele That must have been a right scream, could you here the music? And did you get back home in one piece?

I wouldn't have minded being a hippy - I grew up in that era. Became an audio typist in Midland Bank as it was known then - boring. My only consolation was The Beatles. Queued up in 1964 to see them at Finsbury Park Astoria, London. I actually fancy being a hippy now!

I didn't do too bad at art in school, never at the top but managed to do something different which set it not quite at the bottom end either. My father wanted me to go to art college.....I didn't go because I was too timid and had no confidence in myself or my ability. I think he was more disappointed than I was.lol I still occasionally think.....what if? I'm doing it now and enjoying it, so it doesn't matter really.

Thanks Ellen. Never wanted to be a hippy, just an artist lol.

It's seems we are slightly parallel in our "teenage" years John. When I left school I wanted to go to art school. I was quickly told that I was not going to a place full of "hippies" art or no art, I would get a Proper job! And I liked the Beatles too.