Orchards Arts Current Artists

My passion for ceramics began early in life and has strengthened and evolved. Its a
constant exploration of natural experience as sources of inspiration.  Planning and execution
of ideas, utilizing new and reworked techniques work develops in the many stages of making
from initial concept to further evolving in the studio.

I’m sure my love of bright colour and nature was born in Africa and Cornwall. Apart from creating, my passions are long walks across Europe and long distant sailing and I just love to go into the studio and infuse my work with the energy and vibrancy I find in the natural world - flowers, plants, skies, waves! My objective is to mark make with loose but definite strokes and to create an image that can be understood but is not figurative in an artistic sense. 

My work can be found in collections as far away as  Australia, Hong Kong, America and Europe (not forgetting Marlow!) 

Mia completed a BA in art history through the Open University but, after becoming a mother, had very little time for her art. This changed in 2019 when she suffered a stroke during brain surgery, turning to her favourite medium, Pen & Ink, to re-train her right arm which had been temporarily paralysed. She draws a variety of subjects including butterflies, birds and skulls - she loves capturing detail. She often embellishes with gold leaf and occasionally watercolour. Her black and white drawings are then worked on in Photoshop to give them backgrounds for colourful print versions of her originals.

Everything I create begins with drawing — it’s the foundation of all my work. Even in my watercolours, you may still glimpse the pencil lines beneath the paint. I love exploring a wide range of artistic media, each bringing its own inspiration and challenges to my creative process. I’m always learning, developing, and pushing myself to be brave and experimental. My love of drawing began in childhood, when I was rarely without a pencil in hand.

I worked as an assistant lecturer from 1997 to 2002, then as a lecturer of Fine Arts and at Fujian Normal University from 2002 to 2008. ( Teaching Drawing and Painting & Art history).

For several years, I have worked as a private art tutor, teaching drawing, painting and pottery to students of different ages and abilities. Alongside my teaching, I continue to grow my own art practice while balancing my role as a homemaker.

I am currently volunteering as an art support tutor with Creative Support ( a charity supporting people with diverse learning, mental health, and care needs).

Roni studied Art and Letter design at Bucks College. Pausing her work briefly to raise a family she returned to painting in the early 80's. Roni paints in oils and acrylic pastel, and compressed charcoal but now mostly works in mixed media collaging, giving an opportunity to alter, distress, layer and add materials. She often monoprints over work, layering and removing, sanding down and adding text. Old papers are invaluable to her for aging and adding  information to work. Roni has exhibited in  Mall galleries including: RWS, Marine society, Portrait Mall, Royal Oils, Gloucester and Seattle, USA. She has showed with Bucks Open Studios for 27 years.