Bert Bruins

Loving art and painting in my teens I nevertheless decided to give art college in the Netherlands a miss to study Political Sciences instead, and I have had a varied career since then that includes teaching in alternative education, busking, working in organic horticulture, mental health and supported housing (moving country in the process).

I have kept sketching and painting through it all, and I kept being given art materials by friends who were hoping to see them put to good use. I didn’t disappoint and, having started to work in acrylics in the mid nineties, exhibited in Otterton (East Devon), Exeter and Tavistock. Jobs to pay the rent, political work and a business of my own meant that painting had to be fitted in where possible.

Having recently moved to the Hartland peninsula I have set out on a path that involves two quite different ventures. One, a small scale, specialist bakery, and two, a serious investment in time and effort in creating, and selling my art. This is starting to pay off already in being accepted with enthusiasm at various galleries.

On my website (www.zhibit.org/sw-art100 ) you will be able to see that whilst landscape in oil and acrylics is my main focus I have a love of pattern and colour play also, and who knows I will return to this format later. More immediately I hope to do more work outdoors, play with lino-cuts and palette knives,and do close ups of plants and other subjects. I hope also, as I have done previously, to do some “art treks”, sketching and water colouring as I go, to turn some of the results into studio works later.

Tagged: abstract, acrylic bideford, devon, drawing, illustration, landscape, oils, painting, patterns, pencil, portraits, printmaking, seascape, Townscapes, watercolour