Liz Wells

I was born and grew up in post war England. I have a Higher Diploma in Creative Photography (LCP-London). For several years I worked in advertising photography as an assistant and stylist. I relocated to Canada in the mid 70's and continued working in various photographic fields. I also worked in the picture framing industry. I married and had children and my family became my priority.

In 2010 I moved to Victoria and started taking art classes to aid in my pursuit of a life of creativity and painting. I have a Certificate of Visual Art from VISA and have continued to take classes to expand my art experience. I also volunteered for art organizations : The MAG in Metchosin , the JDF Artists Guild, the VAC in Victoria  and from 2016-2018 was a member of the artists collective The Gage Gallery. Since I left The Gage I have continued to paint and participated in group exhibitions at Fortune Gallery and was happy to show at the juried Sooke Fine Arts  and Ladysmith Fine Arts as well as in juried shows for Arts & Culture Colwood and Metchosin Art Pod.

I paint in oils but also enjoy sketching with charcoal and working with gouache. I also enjoy " plein air" and have been painting with The Alfrescos since 2018 as well as enjoying Life Drawing Sessions at the Coast Collective and Metchosin Art Pod .

I love painting, the action of spreading the paint, mixing the colours, the unexpected results that can occur during application. I started painting with acrylics but have been painting with oils for several years now. My work is image based as I endeavour to create an image that will suggest a story , an idea or feeling. I want to present the viewer with an image they can interpret and feel a connection with . I will select an image from life or my own photographs. This I will reconstruct, combine or adapt to create a more contemporary image.  I am drawn to concepts of memory , nostalgia , imagination and elements of nature . 

I also enjoy working with drawing materials as well as gouache and collage as a way to explore the different directions my work may take. I enjoy the entire process of creating and often find that the painting decides where it is going and my task is to respond to the work. This is challenging but the most rewarding. I am drawn to concepts of memory,nostalgia, imagination and elements of nature.