My name is Lorrie Whittington. I am a 47 year old mother to daughter Orla, and wife to Luke. We live on the South Coast of the UK in a village near Chichester. I trained in the early 1980′s undertaking a Foundation programme in Art & Design and a Diploma, then studied BA Fashion/Textile Design + Women’s Studies in London. In the late 90′s, and early 2000, I gained an International Diploma in Adminstrative Management and an HNC in Business Studies. I hold various vocational qualifications and awards.

I specialise in drawing, painting, fibre art and photography using tools both traditional and digital: ink, pencil, pastels, paints, embroidery, photography. My work is abstract in nature and includes many influences from the Baroque and Roccoco to Pop Art. I take my inspiration mostly from nature. I sell my work mostly online and through Galleries and most of my work is in private collections.

I was  born in 1962 in Taplow, near Slough. My parents left when I was a toddler and moved to to Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire.

Aylesbury was as good a place as any to grow up in, and not a bad place to live in the 70′s and 80′s if you liked Rock and Indie music. During my teenage years and 20′s, Aylesbury had a very vibrant and active music scene (and still does) and was the base for Friars Music. Friars was a rock club/venue that in its heyday saw some of the best bands around.  Interestingly this year was it’s 40th anniversary and the club has been revived. It’s rebirth saw a huge event take place with a line up  of 70′s and 80′s Punk luminaries.

Aylesbury was a strange place in the 1970′s, a market and county town and where the law courts are situated. Aylesbury was and is a melting pot of ethnic diversity, which I found to be a very positive experience.

I Went to Infants School and thence to Junior school, which passed by fairly unremarkably, other than being a bit of a loner and being bullied by a vindictive and mean spirited  school teacher who shall remain nameless (you know who you are Mr Cottril).

From there I went to a state Secondary School, and as someone remarked, had already by dint of failing the 11 Plus and being sent to a ‘Secondary’ School, been marked out for failure! I hated the place with a passion, and have absolutely no happy memories from there what so ever. I was consistently let down by both teachers, the education system and on occasion friends. A tale that could be told by many I think.

From there I went to Art College, did a Foundation Course in Art and gained a Diploma, went to Uni for about thee  years (I think!) also to study Art and Design, progressed to Women’s and Political Studies, and then dropped out!

Like so many students, I picked the wrong degree and unfortunately did not realise at the time that we only really get one bite of the cherry! Personally, I don’t think anyone should be allowed to go to University until they are at least 21! So many make the wrong choices!

I did many different things for many years and certainly ‘lived’. Loved music, and sang and played in some bands. Being a musician was my ambition for quite a long time until I worked at a Record Company in their Recording Studio for about three years, which killed the desire entirely, but was certainly an experience and I met some interesting people and made some good friends.

I moved down to the coast about sixteen or more years ago and started studying again part time. I gained some fairly good business qualifications which have been useful though were bloody hard work, then studied web design, which subsequently got me back into Art, which in a sense brings me back full circle. I now actively work at my art, both drawing, painting. I sell paintings on both canvas and paper, ACEO’s, prints of my work, postcards etc., which can be purchase from a multitude of places.

In 2002 at the grand old age of 40, having met a wonderful man in 1999, I finally married. He is is my best mate, spoils me totally and is able to cope with my excessively demanding nature and multitude of foibles and idiosyncrasies! In March of 2005 we gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, who is now four and a half years old, and the delight of our lives..

My girl starts school this year, so all is about to change once again. My plan is to undertake my Masters Degree in the next year or so and see where that takes me…

So, that’s it…for the moment!