Lucy releases inner artist to create unexpected gifts
THIS week we’re visiting Lucy Hay at An Unexpected Artist. Lucy, who now lives in St George, was born in St Asaph and grew up in Ruthin.
Here she tells us how she started on her creative path.
“When I was at school in Denbigh, my art teacher told me to give up art as I wasn’t good enough to pass any exams. So, I spent much of my adult life believing that I wasn’t artistic and steered clear of anything remotely arty.
“I always felt, however, that there was an inner artist desperate to get out, so I started a pottery course and produced some pretty decent pots!
“I then moved onto a beginners’ drawing and painting course, just to see, once and for all, whether I really was that bad at art. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and started making cards from my drawings to sell at craft fairs. My first year I sold over 250 Christmas cards!
“That encouraged me to start printing my drawings onto mugs and coasters, hessian bags and then, eventually, my best sellers, cashmere and chiffon scarves. I now do makers and artisan markets all over North Wales and the North West.
“I am totally inspired by North Wales, the beauty of the countryside and the friendliness of the people. I tend to draw things that I encounter in my own surroundings: bees in the garden, hares in the field, wild pheasants, ducks in the pond and, of course, ons!
“I love printing on cashmere scarves, they are so soft and lovely to wear and I’m always chuffed when my customers tell me how much they love them and keep coming back for more! I think my favourite design is the pheasant. It is very ‘country’ and I love the colours when printed on a cream cashmere scarf.”
If you would like to see more of Lucy’s work, why not pop over to her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AnUnexpectedArtist/ drag-