Sheila Cameron – portfolio

Contact the artist

01865 558212
sheilacx333[at]gmail.com

Exhibition information

I am showing mainly of acrylic and/or collage pictures which varying greatly in subject, size, and price. They are the result of a challenge I set myself on my 79th birthday – to produce 80 pictures in my 80th year. There will also be necklaces (mostly) and other jewellery, mainly featuring recycled pearls, shell and glass. It has been a challenging, but fun project, and I’d love to hear what you make of the results – perhaps over a cuppa, if you have time for a chat and can tolerate a house that will be a million miles from minimal and pristine. 

Artist information

In 2024, looking at my last painting (oil, c.1969) it dawned on me that I’d always intended to get back to it – once life allowed.  Bu life had become ever busier: three kids, a full-time plus part-time academic job and and a side hustle as an author had left little time and zero energy. Over the years I tried making pictures in rags (see Artweek 1985), went to the (then) FE college to learn stained glass. I knitted more complicated sweaters for my family than they could ever need. I beccame obsessed with the wonderful beads, disguised in hideous designs, to be found in charity shops. I still mend broken strings and clasps for neigbours. But the painting was nagging at me, and ‘If not now, then when?’ was becoming an ever more urgent question. 

I love abstract landscapes, and wanted to paint my own. I pestered Jane Strother to let me take her intermediate online abstract painting course. She was right to resist. Even a recent GCSE would have been inadequate, and my still life based O-level  was 60 years out of date. My dismal attempts at abstraction were further evidence. But I am so glad she eventually relented. I have had the best year of my life as a result.  OK, I have found that I can’t decide, plan and execute a lanscape. But I can switch off my brain and let pictures emerge, as long as I do not attemt to pimpose my will upon them in any way. As soon as I do, they give up the struggle to come to life. They seem to prefer collage to paint, which is fine by me. I missed out on playschool.