How our passion for painting has led to new friendships
Vivid artworks by some of NI’s finest female artists will be unveiled to the public tonight at the preview of the Ulster Society of Women Artists’ 62nd annual exhibition.
‘I love painting horses and I make a donation to the animal sanctuary with each sale’
Lesley Ann Sharp (66) lives on a farm near Antrim with her husband Richard (67), daughter Jessica, son-in-law Phil and granddaughters Evelyn (4) and Eleanor (1). She is a passionate horsewoman and painter of horses and other animals.
She says she always wanted to be either an artist or work with horses, and had planned to go to art college but couldn’t bear to leave her pony behind.
“Instead I went to train as a riding instructor in Newmarket and I went on to have a career with horses — showjumping, eventing and showing,” she says.
“I would draw and paint people’s horses in the trailer park at the events and began getting commissions for pet portraits — dogs and horses.
“It’s always just been a hobby, something that I absolutely loved and that I’ve been lucky enough to make money out of. It’s never been a full-time job, just something that was fun and enjoyable to do. Every so often I got a commission and somebody wanted to buy something and it was just brilliant.”
Lesley Ann lives close to Crosskennan Lane Animal Sanctuary which rescues horses, and now has 11 of the rescue horses living at her own farm. “I take photographs and pictures of them, they are wonderful to paint.”
Her paintings are on display in a permanent exhibition at
Crosskennan’s visitor cabin. “I make a donation for each sale back to the sanctuary, which is nice,” she says.
Lesley Ann says joining local art groups and in particular the USWA (Ulster Society of Women Artists) has been a great way to meet like-minded people.
“It’s quite a thing to be accepted by USWA as a member and I was absolutely thrilled to become a member,” she says.
“I think if it hadn’t been for the art clubs I wouldn’t have got to know so many people. It’s a really good way to find your way around and find people who like the same sort of things as you do.
“The other art groups have ladies and gentleman but this is a completely different feel. It’s extremely friendly and the ladies are all really, really nice.
“There are a huge number of different types of painting there — ladies who do art in glassworks and sculpture, all sorts of things, mixed media and fabric design as well as the usual watercolours.”
Lesley Ann also has a picture-framing business which she has brought over from England where she was born: “I paint more now, but I’m always really interested to see how other people frame their pictures and I have framed paintings for several of the artists.”