A solo exhibition of oil paintings, traditional printmaking, fabrics and stained glass by local artist Anita Saunders.

After a Foundation Course at Gloucestershire College of Art and Design, Anita gained a degree in Fine Art at Exeter, where a love of printmaking joined her passion for painting. Having illustrated several children’s books in the USA whilst juggling a corporate career, Anita took the step to become a full-time artist in 2017.

Using a variety of media, a love of nature is the common thread running throughout her work. The changing colours of the seasons are reflected in her choice of subject matter. Plump rosehips, blackberries and hawthorns can be found intertwined with the native animals and birds depicted in her oil paintings and limited edition, hand-drawn screen prints, which fizz with colour. “We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area. I cannot help being inspired by my surroundings; I am drawn to subjects again and again. Somehow ‘The Call of the Wild’ says it all.”

Since graduating from Exeter College of Art & Design in the 1980s with a degree in Fine Art, Anita continued to create and to illustrate numerous children’s books whilst juggling a corporate career. In 2017, she finally grasped the opportunity to become a full-time artist and loves it. Today she works from her garden studio in the Wiltshire countryside; its animals, flora and fauna are a constant source of inspiration, appearing time and again in her compositions.

Meet the artist dates:

• Friday 12 August
• Saturday 20 August
• Monday 29 August
• Saturday 3 September