Artist showcases a love of flowers in her paintings
THE Rev Anne Battershell is a selftaught artist with a love of flowers.
Following a career as a teacher and various other roles, Anne decided to teach herself to paint in 1990.
Previously she has held small exhibitions in her own home and during craft days at churches.
At the sprightly age of 85, Anne is currently holding the first full-scale exhibition of her work at The Coach House in Littleborough.
The exhibition is entitled ‘Mostly Flowers’ and the paintings on display include those based on a number of other subjects.
Anne first taught herself to paint by using the ‘teach-yourself-topaint’ books written by James Fletcher Watson, John Blockley, Alwyn Crawshaw and Ann Blockley.
More recently she has been inspired by several flower painters such as Janet Whittle, Wendy Tait and Wendy Jelbert.
Anne believes there are reflections of the work of these artists in her own, and that her own work reflects ‘the creation which can be found all around us’.
The paintings in the exhibition are full of life, vivacity and colour.
Anne has often been inspired by the geraniums, poppies and nasturtiums which grow in her garden, and enjoys the symbolism of these ‘flowers of the field’.
There are also paintings of kingfishers and other birds, as well as a landscape view of Todmorden from Anne’s home in Walsden.
Several seasidethemed works include a colourful trio of boats and a delightful painting of children playing on a beach, which is lovingly crafted and captures the innocence and joy of childhood.
The paintings employ various styles and mediums.
Anne often borrows ideas for their compositions from other artists and these include the painter Anne Blockley, whom she was fortunate to meet when she attended one of her workshops in 2000.
Icelandic Poppies, one of the paintings in the exhibition, was painted during this workshop.
Anne’s more recent work has been produced using water-soluble oils.
Prolific painter Anne also enjoys painting Biblical scenes such as Jesus calming the storm and the story of Elijah and the fire from heaven.
She is currently working on a series of these paintings which she plans to exhibit in a church later in the year.
The exhibition at The Coach House in Littleborough will run until April 8. Many of the paintings are for sale and prices start at £35.