Shevaun’s passion is her bees! We will be introduced to her collection of Bees in her artwork and see how she incorporates the bees into her paintings.
From Shevaun:
I have always loved drawing and painting. However, it was only when I moved to Egypt in 2005, that I found the time to indulge my passion for art and nature. Inspired by the beautiful flora and light of the Middle East, I taught myself watercolours by painting the flowers and insects that my young daughters found in the gardens.
I was introduced to botanical art in 2008 on a visit to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery in London. I remember being completely mesmerised by the artwork – the intensity of the colours and the meticulous attention to detail was awe-inspiring. I returned to Egypt, enrolled on the Society of Botanical Artists Distance Learning Diploma Course, graduating with distinction in 2012.
I now live in Kildare working full-time as an artist and art tutor. I exhibit regularly in Ireland and internationally, and have won many awards for my work (View My CV).Teaching allows me to share my enthusiasm for nature and art. I travel extensively giving workshops and demonstrations, (See WHAT’S ON) and feel immensely proud when I see my students master a technique. As well as running my own online course, I am a tutor for the SBA DLDC, the very course that started me on my journey.
In recent years I have been exploring the artistic potential of vellum as a substrate. The historical connection appeals to me. Vellum is specially prepared animal skin, usually calf, goat or sheep, and has been used for royal decrees, religious manuscripts (e.g. the Book of Kells), constitutional laws and important historical events for over a thousand years. The technique for preparing vellum remains the same.
Vellum imbues a beautiful luminosity to watercolour paintings as the pigment sits on the surface. Each skin is unique, reflecting the life and death of the animal. I try to incorporate these organic markings into my work. Working on vellum brings a sense of reverence and connection to the natural world.
All the vellum that I use is ethically responsible, using skins of animals that have lived well and died naturally. Some skins are a by-product of the meat-industry and would otherwise go to landfill.