Bridget Skanski-Such - Mixed Media Artist
I believe that there is magic in the world.....just beyond the reach of our fingertips.......just beyond the range of our vision......every now and then we catch a glimpse of something we can feel but we cannot explain. I admire artists who can capture this "magic" in their work and draw a response that is spiritual, religious, mystical, magical, transcendental? - the definition is decided by the viewer.

My textiles and paintings are often inspired by the icons of Byzantine art and I am seeking to create pieces which are like fragments of ancient sacred artefacts. Other recurring themes in my work are leaves, trees, stars and hearts. Jewel-like machine embroidered and hand beaded "fragments" of Voile, silk and leaf skeletons are used together with gold leaf to embellish texts on charred watercolour paper. Glowing complimentary colours and an "aged" quality characterize the work. The texts are from the King James Bible, I use these because I like the language. The texts are only fragments because I want my work to have a "hidden" quality suggesting some mystery beyond the face value of things, which is really what I think life is all about.

I graduated in 1984 from Nottingham Trent University where John Newling (Sculptor) was my tutor. After a full time career in education I turned back to my own work in 2000. I still have links with various local schools where I work in a consultancy role. In September 2004 I will be artist in residence at Wittering Primary School, Peterborough. In addition to this I work with the Child Bereavement Support Services in Lincolnshire to facilitate Visual Arts Projects.

I live in Oasby, near grantham with my husband, John and cat, Mish (Russian for "Bear".) We live in a small stone cottage with a lovely garden and when I'm not working I enjoy participating in local events (there are many in Oasby!) including singing in a madrigal group and organising a women's choir. I also play keyboards for the "Old Parrot Band" (Lincolnshire ceilidh band).