PaintersOnline editor’s choice
Meet this month’s editor’s choice winner from our PaintersOnline gallery
Hungarian-born, Judit Matthews, is an illustrative artist living in Surrey. ‘After leaving school,’ she writes, ‘I came to England in 1994 as an au-pair in my gap year. I met Jim, who is now my husband and have two children, Harry and Emma. ‘My work has a unique look with lots of detail in an illustrative style. I get my inspiration from paper-cutting artists and my Hungarian heritage, which is rich with folk art. I enjoy painting animals but not in a conventional way. The starting point for this picture was a sketch of a pheasant I did on Dartmoor a few years ago and using my imagination for the setting. I begin with a detailed pencil drawing, then go over my lines with a dip pen and Winsor & Newton black Indian ink. Once the ink dries, I rub out my pencil lines and start painting using watercolours. I try to use a limited palette, mostly sticking to four or five colours. To finish, I add collage using patterned or textured papers, such as Japanese washi paper or wallpaper – sometimes even wrapping paper.
‘I enjoy drawing natural, organic forms and use them as pattern. I also paint whimsical, quirky pictures with animals, creating a story narrative and love to draw seaside pictures and illustrated maps. I have taken part in several group exhibitions and have also had a couple of solo shows. In 2000 I took part in Channel 4’s Watercolour Challenge and I won the Surrey Life magazine’s Landscape Painter of the
Year competition in 2017. My work has been accepted to the annual exhibition of the Society of Women Artists and the Society of Graphic Fine Art. I have also illustrated a couple of children’s books by the wonderful author, Tina Talbot. The Daring Droplets’ Diary teaches children about the water cycle and pollution. We received a lovely letter
from David Attenborough to encourage us to teach children to protect our planet. The other book is titled The Wilful Wildflowers and the Golden Petal; www.survivalsupersquad.co.uk
‘I am a member of the Tadworth Art Group. We have two exhibitions each year – in May and November. I am also planning on taking part in the Surrey Artists’ Open Studios in June. My work will be available to see at the Ferrers Gallery in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, The Reigate Pop Up in Reigate, Bourneside Gallery in Dorking, the Corner Gallery in Carshalton, Wildwood Gallery in Bookham, and at the AppArt exhibition in Godalming in July.
‘I run art classes in my home studio as well as online classes, plus I do demonstrations for art groups.’ Find out more about her work at www.juditmatthews.artweb.com www.facebook.com/judit.matthews and at www.instagram.com/juditmatthews
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