Monmouthshire Magnetism of


The rolling Monmouthshire countryside seems to be a magnet for creative souls, whether it’s the landscape itself which inspires, or just the tranquillity of the area, which allows time to escape modern day life and master time-honoured skills...


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isiting the county’s numerous galleries, art shows and open studios, such as a recent Made in Monmouthshire


exhibition in the stunning setting of Hilston Park, gives a real insight into the breadth of talent in the county and the breathtaking quality of the work being produced. Members of this 60-strong group make up a skilled and energetic community of artists and makers, from those whose creativity provides a full-time career to others who grab time out from their busy working lives to give expression to their artistic ideas.


Creative retreat


One artist who uses her art as an escape from the pressures of the corporate world is Gillian Horsfield, who works for pharmaceutical company Pfizer, and says: “It’s my way of getting rid of stress.” Even as a child Gillian was a keen artist and


over the years she has developed a particular skill for exquisite, detailed and vibrant paintings of flora and fauna. “When my career took off, I put my art to


one side for a while,” she said. “However, as the work I did grew in


complexity and responsibility, I found I needed something which enabled me to switch off and relax.


“My subjects and inspiration come from


the beautiful Monmouthshire countryside, my garden and many others that are open to the public. My camera is never far away and I must have accumulated hundreds of images.” Gillian begins her work with a natural


composition, drawing the outline and starting with a very light colour wash. “Slowly, I build the layers of paint until I get


the depth I want. To get the detail I use a very small brush and a magnifying glass to paint the veins and add sharpness. Typically a painting can take 20 to 40 hours to complete.” Gillian, who lives in Llanishen, near Usk,


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Anthony M Skates


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