PENNY WHEATLEY

"Being both a musician and a painter, my creative life comprises numerous threads interwoven within my paintings, giving rise to diverse expressions, patterns, and meanings. For me, music and the visual arts are nearly inseparable, existing in a synergistic manner. Rhythm, melody, and harmony infuse my paintings, while the physical movement of dance further energises them. Even in stillness, movement remains the underlying theme running through my work.

The choice between these passions puzzled me as I approached adulthood. However, finding an answer to this question wasn't challenging for me. Music, a performing art (though I also studied composition), particularly in chamber and orchestral settings, is a shared endeavour, whereas sculpture and painting, to me, are inherently private and solitary. Hence, opting to study Music was a straightforward decision, one I've never regretted. I've continued to pursue both these art forms throughout my life. In my final year of studying music, I also embarked on private sculpture lessons with the renowned sculptor David Wynne, who had previously taught me art at my "arty" school.

Later on, I delved into modern dance and took up flying in gliders. Another of my passions was horses and riding, and I've even published two books of poetry. Animals and birds hold a significant place in my life; I hold a special fondness for them, especially cats.

I mention these life passions to account for the diversity in the subjects of my work. Yet, my emphasis lies on how I express myself through painting and my approach to these various subjects and interests in my visual creations. In recent years, my focus has been on watercolour, which complements my affinity for light, transparency, mystery, strangeness, reflection, and the interplay of layers in a contrapuntal manner." — Penny Wheatley