I create art because it is something I love doing and because I find it therapeutic. I believe we are all born with a purpose - to live, to love, to laugh and to create. I remember painting and drawing as a young child - who didn’t love getting the old shirt apron on and getting the big pots of paint out in primary school?

My dad also loved to paint and the smell of oil paint, linseed oil and paint thinners takes me right back to my childhood. I remember being fascinated with how he created landscape paintings from sketches he made while we were out for Sunday drives. I begged him to teach me and finally he relented - we didn’t have a lot of cash and I remember him being wary of me touching anything as his materials cost a lot of money. In fact, I remember watching him in shops trying to decide between supplies depending on how much cash he had available.

He eventually let me use an old canvas and showed me how to paint with oils - we painted a vase with yellow flowers on a blue background. I remember him using crumpled up kitchen paper to make the background texture effects. I can’t remember what happened to that little painting but I do remember being as proud as punch with it!

I lost touch with art and painting after my dad died in 1989 and I only reconnected with it in 2016 when I went for a couple of art lessons with Angie McKee in her art studio in Bangor, County Down. Once I got bitten by the art bug again there was no stopping me and I have been painting and trying my best to be creative ever since.

Nature inspires me so you will see that the majority of my work consists of natural scenes, landscapes, treescapes and seascapes. Oils are my preferred medium as I love how they blend and I enjoy the texture they create, especially when the palette knife comes out to play.

Lately I have been working on a new abstract collection which is a little different but the underlying thread remains - I want my art to make you feel good. To provide a source of calm reflection in your busy day and to make you smile when you see it.

If you’d like to follow me on Facebook then please visit my page - https://www.facebook.com/DebiGarrettArtist or follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/debigarrettart/