Marie Blake's Profile
I was born in London but spent my early childhood in rural Devon, not far from where I now live. Being an only child, I was attracted to the activities of our neighbour who was a painter and especially her frequent guest Orovida Pissarro. I was too young to know of art history or this lady’s connections but I valued her as my drawing friend. In time she introduced me to a level of ideas and opportunities unavailable in remote East Devon at that particular time. At her instigation and despite limited parental means I was sent to live with friends on the Surrey fringe of London.
From the age of twelve I attended the Saturday morning sessions for children at Kingston on Thames School of Art, winning annual awards in the Royal Drawing Society’s Children’s Exhibitions held at the London Guildhall Gallery. I continued at Kingston as a full time student of Fine Art studying painting with lithography and finally qualified at Central College London University as an art teacher.
My teaching career began at Westover Girls’ School in Bridgwater Somerset and subsequently I became Head of the Art Department of Swakeleys School in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
During the years in which I was raising a family I continued to teach, principally at Honiton Community College in East Devon; but retired extra early in order to run my own Art Workshops from my home in Lyme Regis, Dorset. In order to fund the advertising for the project I wrote articles for ‘Leisure Painter’ magazine on a regular basis. This was followed by a commission to write an instruction book on Pastels for Harper Collins which has since been translated into three other languages. Thanks to ‘Leisure Painter’ the workshops were attended by clients worldwide, and with a body of regular and loyal returners lasted for fifteen years before I decided that it was time for me to concentrate on my own art.
I have exhibited in New York, Germany and also with the ROI, the RSMA, the NEAC as well as being a member of the Society of Women Artists. I am now an active member of the Society of Graphic Fine Art having served my term on its council as honorary secretary.
From the age of twelve I attended the Saturday morning sessions for children at Kingston on Thames School of Art, winning annual awards in the Royal Drawing Society’s Children’s Exhibitions held at the London Guildhall Gallery. I continued at Kingston as a full time student of Fine Art studying painting with lithography and finally qualified at Central College London University as an art teacher.
My teaching career began at Westover Girls’ School in Bridgwater Somerset and subsequently I became Head of the Art Department of Swakeleys School in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
During the years in which I was raising a family I continued to teach, principally at Honiton Community College in East Devon; but retired extra early in order to run my own Art Workshops from my home in Lyme Regis, Dorset. In order to fund the advertising for the project I wrote articles for ‘Leisure Painter’ magazine on a regular basis. This was followed by a commission to write an instruction book on Pastels for Harper Collins which has since been translated into three other languages. Thanks to ‘Leisure Painter’ the workshops were attended by clients worldwide, and with a body of regular and loyal returners lasted for fifteen years before I decided that it was time for me to concentrate on my own art.
I have exhibited in New York, Germany and also with the ROI, the RSMA, the NEAC as well as being a member of the Society of Women Artists. I am now an active member of the Society of Graphic Fine Art having served my term on its council as honorary secretary.