Artist Focus - Ali Colver

Ali Colver

One of our featured artists this month is Ali Colver. You can visit Ali's Feature window at the Wynd Gallery from January 6 - 18 and find out more about Ali and her work below.

The Wynd Gallery is a co-operative art gallery run by local artists.

The gallery offers an ever-changing exhibition of contemporary prints, paintings, sculpture, jewellery, photography, ceramics and textiles.

The gallery promotes the Arts in Letchworth Garden City and provides an exciting venue suitable for artists working across a range of contemporary visual arts media.

Throughout the year our artists will share their work through our feature window programme

You are our current featured artist at the Wynd gallery, with our featured artist window. Please tell us about what we can expect to see when we visit the gallery?

At the Wynd Gallery you will see a wide range of stunning work from the artists who come from all walks of life. I have admired this gallery since its inception and could only dream of being an artist here until last year when I was accepted as a member.

The art on offer here is wide-ranging from paintings, illustrations, jewellery, glasswork, weaving and woodwork.

This gallery is a little gem.

Can you tell us a little about your journey into art?

I started off as a draftsperson after studying Graphic Design at college which I really enjoyed.

My first proper job was at the town hall in Luton producing engineering plans by hand; I didn't realise at the time that this would be invaluable experience later on down the line.

From there I had many designs posts locally and in London. I illustrated books, educational brochures, posters and flyers and then gave it up to become a first time Mum.

I didn't feel that I could go back to a trade that was moving on so fast with computers so I became a secretary.

Around 2013, I became chronically ill and had several surgeries which left a large blank on my CV. My sister persuaded me to go to uni and I enrolled in a Fine Art course a couple of months after my final surgery. 

I made two fantastic friends, tried many different mediums and graduated in 2017.

Since then I draw for myself, it helps me relax and I love to lose myself in an illustration. I occasionally take on a commission, but usually pets and animals. 

How would you describe your artistic style in your own words?

I am a big fan of detail, so my work is usually intricate, however I absolutely love loose, flowing work and wish I could work in that way.

What materials or techniques do you most enjoy working with?

I usually depend on Caran D'ache pencil (I've loved them for 40 years) for my colour work.

I also love the challenge of using ink and black biro as if you make a mistake, it's difficult to erase.

What’s one tool you couldn’t live without?

This is a hard one, but I would say a 0.03 Uni Pin fineliner.

Where do you draw inspiration from? Nature, people, emotions, or something else?

It's always been about animals and the natural world for me, flora and fauna. I leave people portraits to those that can do it.

What projects or ideas are you excited to explore next?

I am currently working on an ink piece of a bird in flight which I hope to finish soon. I would love to learn to paint well in acrylics, but I love to experiment with different mediums like silverpoint, scraper board and paint more watercolour.

What’s one surprising fact about you that people might not expect?

In one of my London jobs, I worked alongside the original lead singer of Iron Maiden.

He helped me discover a vast amount of new music, so I am forever grateful to him.

Do you have a ritual or routine that helps you get into a creative mindset?

I find different genres of music helps (just not Iron Maiden though!).

Coffee, tea, or something else while you create? Decaf tea with a splash of oat milk.

What advice would you give someone who wants to start exploring craft or art themselves?

Do it! Start immediately! Doodle, scribble, mark make - and visit some local galleries to get your creative juices going.