Five Minutes with Tammy Walters

What inspires you to create art?

I am inspired to create art as soon as I open my eyes, I walk my dogs in the local fields, and whilst I’m out I’m thinking of the colours of the haybales, the lines that the tractors have made in the grass, the colour of the sky, even the image of the dogs as they walk in front of me against the backdrop of the crops. I am excited in my greenhouse when I pick my tomatoes and bring them into the kitchen, imagining a beautiful painting of the I see everything as an idea to create, paint or sketch.

What has been your most memorable art sale?

my most memorable art sale has to be a recent one of an elephant commission. It was a surprise for a customers wife who loves animals and going on safari, it was 1.8 x 1.6 metres. It was in lockdown and I couldn’t get a canvas delivered so my husband built the frame and I stretched the canvas in my studio, then the job of transporting and hanging in a huge gallery/staircase.  think the stress will be forever imprinted in my mind, but the outcome and feedback was amazing.

How have you seen your business change over the last six months?

With the help of the Visual Artists Association, over the last six months, I have become more productive. I have also developed my business and become more precise as to how I market myself and manage my workload.

How would you advise Artists who are beginning their careers?

I would definitely advise them to think about joining the Visual Artists Association, which has helped me with my confidence, strategy, and gaining social media skills to get your work out there. It has also helped to get involved with other Artists who are in the same boat. They can help massively when you need support. I would also advise that artists never give up.

What do you find rewarding about being an Artist?

I find being an artist very rewarding. It’s a form of escapism for me. I find creating art like my own personal therapy session, a time just for me to put my emotions on paper/canvas. If someone loves the work I make, that’s just a bonus.