Frank Wootton

I always loved drawing through Primary school but didn’t enjoy Art as a subject in Secondary School; the curriculum was very limiting and I struggled with any creativity in the classroom, preferring to work when I got home.

My Grandad was Frank Wootton OBE, a gifted aviation, equestrian and landscape artist. He achieved great things professionally and helped me with early pet portrait commissions. I was in awe of his speedy sketching and the way he could bring a painting to life with a just few brush strokes.

I started out with graphite and coloured pencil as you can achieve many textures and depths of tone, it’s clean and doesn’t require any clearing up. If you have to stop, you can down tools & pick back up on your return without risk of paint drying.

Pastels are quick and soft but need fixing with a fixative spray which can lose some of the detail and vibrancy of colour.

Watercolours are lovely when they do what you want them to do and are a very different discipline to oils. You can’t correct mistakes easily but their transparency is wonderful for the right subject. Brushes and palettes are easy to clean.

Oils are great if you have the time. They stay wet for long enough to blend colours and have amazing vibrancy. If you go wrong you can remove paint and/or cover with more paint. I paint round the sides of my canvas so framing them isn’t essential but optional. I always clean my brushes when I finish so I can make a clean start the next day and it keeps the brushes in good condition. Some of my brushes belonged to my Grandad so they’re over 30 years old!

I like to have several paintings/drawings on the go so while I’m waiting for an oil to dry before the next stage, I can crack on with another, depending on whether I’m in a pencil, pastel or watercolour mood. I love the variety but do find it difficult knowing when a painting is finished. I can end up with many unfinished pieces.

You can’t beat the excitement of a new project and keeping the momentum going can be challenging. I have a rowing machine in my studio so after tending to the chickens and walking the dogs, I’ll listen to some energetic music whilst rowing & looking at my painting on the easel. Any improvements usually come to me and after a shower, I’m set up for the day.