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b. 1948
An artist & printmaker, born in Stoke-on-Trent. She studied Textile design at Croydon College of Art before travelling to Sweden and to Paris. In Paris, she studied mosaics at the École de Beaux-Arts. She worked for several years with the ancient collotype printing presses at the Trianon Press - which produced facsimile editions of the works of William Blake and Samuel Palmer. Returning to the UK, she took a Diploma in Art Therapy at St Albans College of Art and then worked for many years as an art therapist in schools and hospitals. However, she found time in between such posts for more travelling, including long periods in Israel and Spain, before settling in Suffolk, where she returned to full-time painting and printing.
Initially her work concentrated on screens and murals to commission – with the constant themes of ancient theatre and commedia del’arte. More recently her work has taken a semi-abstract turn. This corresponds to the exciting discovery of the freedom of the monotype and monoprint techniques. These works have an intangible dream-like quality which radiates colour, warmth and humour. Valerie is a member of the Suffolk Crafts Society and the Sudbourne Park Print Group. She has travelled widely in Europe and the Middle East and draws her inspiration from many sources: – people & places; ancient & modern theatre and her own intangible world of dreams. Has exhibited widely both nationally and internationally and her works are in private and public collections around the world.
Exhibitions Include:
Dreams, Myths and Comedy at The Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich; Fringe at the Factory, Norwich Fringe Arts Festival 2005; Targetfollow, Riverside House Norwich; "Artist of the Month" Snape Maltings Gallery; "Makers in the Maltings" Group Exhibition, Pond Gallery, Snape Maltings; Inscapes, Group Exhibition, Peter Pears Gallery Aldeburgh, Suffolk; Ipswich Town Hall Gallery - Artist of the Month; Aldeburgh Gallery; Marshwinds, Suffolk; Blackthorpe Barn Gallery, Rougham. Her latest works can be seen at www.valeriearmstrong.com