Horses were a big part of Michelle's childhood. She was on a horse before she could draw and was drawing before she could write. It was her grandmother who first taught her how to draw a horse's back leg. Now both Michelle and her brother make their living from horses - Michelle painting, Jack playing polo in Australia. Their mother often says that this is the result of years spent in Pony Club and it is indeed here that Michelle sold her very first works of art.
The desire to paint and draw developed throughout Michelle's school years in Buckinghamshire. If an exercise book had a blank cover it was soon filled with drawings of horses and there were always sketches adorning her bedroom walls.
The family moved to Somerset in 2002 and after achieving a fine arts degree at Falmouth College of Arts Michelle focused her energy on pursuing her artistic career. Her work was shown annually during the Somerset Arts Week and her confidence in what she was producing grew. Her first solo exhibition was at The Guggleton Gallery in Dorset in December 2009. Less than six months later she had work hanging in two prestigious art galleries in London, one of which was here at the Osborne Studio Gallery. Michelle continued to exhibit in various mixed shows with the gallery including the annual Impressions of the Turf, The Royal Ascot Racing Club and Glorious Goodwood.
Michelle now works from her studio in Dorset where her fascination with the anatomy of animals is explored in her ghosting paintings. An original and compelling effect in many paintings is the juxtaposition of an animal with transparent white images appearing out of the canvas. Michelle's work is inspired by studies that fill her sketchbook and is enhanced by her skilled draughtsmanship and thorough knowledge of anatomy. The result is an exciting and unique style that we are very proud to be exhibiting at The Osborne Studio Gallery.
