Originally from Kent, I have recently made the move to Swindon. I am a country girl and had conventional fine art training at Farnham, West Surrey College of Art and Design. Although I mainly studied aspects of printmaking, etching, lithography, screen-printing, woodblock etc, students were encouraged to develop other skills and techniques in painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography and textiles. I was exposed to a variety of media, which has stood me in good stead in my recent years as an art teacher.

However for several years after college, I became embroiled in my life as a farmer's wife and mother to four children; at one point juggling home life with jobs as a life model and photographers assistant. So my own art work was pushed to one side, but when I trained as a teacher in the late 90's I gradually became quite frustrated as I spent hours encouraging pupils to work, I decided that I should really practice what I preach and started to produce paintings!

I produced a body of work, in acrylics and oils, based on the theme of water. I cannot say that it was initially deliberate, but I realised that I am fascinated by the water. At this time I had access to a pond which was home to several Koi carp and used this to produce more work.

I use holiday trips, in the UK or abroad, to gather information for more prolonged pieces of work. I am particularly interested in the balance and use of space within the canvas. I will often work on several pieces at one time, practical as in a cold work space oils dry exceedingly slowly and also I find I need to break away from work, to see it with fresh eyes on another day.

In 2008 I held a one woman show in Kent at the Half a Sixpence Gallery, near Ashford and as a first venture for many years was delighted that I actually sold some work! I found other venues to exhibit and received positive feedback. After a disrupted few months, during the move to the West Country, I was delighted to find the Swindon artists Forum and be accepted into their fold!

As I have been working full-time, I try to snatch as much time as I can to paint and I try to develop my skills with each image produced. I do believe that you never stop learning and I am always intrigued at the outcome of each image, I rarely start a piece of work knowing how it will develop. Although technical skills can be reproduced, each image will present different challenges, whether a new medium or theme is being tackled.

I am in the process of setting up a website, but can be contacted via e-mail: nikitritton@hotmail.com