Therese James
Artist Statement
My paintings stem from an inner vision that the Welsh would
call 'Hiraeth' - a longing for a lost love akin to a 'Never,
Never land' that was there and sometimes is just about touchable
, but not quite.
My creative journey has been touched by many people along the
way who have both enjoyed and shared my vision . However, the
greatest influence on my success and love of art is a shared
passion for working instictively from your heart with Outsider
artist Jocelyn Prosser.
Born in Llanelli, West Wales 1959, Therese's early years were
cosy with coal fires and 'Bill & Ben' on black and white
television. Summer holidays were spent on Gower beaches with
Sam the Cairn terrier, shrimp nets and sandals and the sun seemed
endless.
Therese is a naive artist and has been painting for 18 years.
She exhibits with galleries in the Cotswolds, Cornwall and Wales.
She was selected for 'Welsh Artist of the Year' and was invited
to represent the 'The Countryside Council for Wales' in the
'Royal Welsh Show' and 'The National Eisteddfodd'.
Therese was the subject of a feature in the magazine 'Artist
& Illustrator' which examined her naive roots. Her work
is increasingly collected and is in private collections as far
afield as New Zealand and America.
Quote
' As a member of 'The Naive School' there's always a story to
be told, often an amusing take on the world or a nostalgic hark
back to a cosy Utopian past. Dog walkers' leads get muddled,
ladies who lunch lose their sophistication, the floozy on the
hen night staggers on stilettos and tables are set for tea in
the parlour - it's a kind world in naive art, a record of life
observed and remembered'. (Quote, Art Matters, Tenby)
