Mary Price, a painter from Bristol, is one of the lucky runner-ups for the Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2019, in the category Workshop/Studio. With a beautiful Lantera log cabin which has now become her biggest painting to date.
The artist runs a very popular Instagram account to showcase the work she does from her shed. You can follow the @artistintheshed to see more of her beautiful paintings and short videos, where she updates you with new techniques and pieces that she’s working on.
We reached out to Mary to have a chat about her artwork, her shed and her chances of winning the shed of the Year competition. Here’s what she told us:
DH: How long have you been painting?
Mary: I have always painted, but since having a studio in my garden, my practice has transformed. For years I worked at the dining table and had to pack everything away after each painting session. Now I can leave work on the easel or table and carry on where I left off without having to set up art supplies each and every time. I still really appreciate this.
DH: What’s your main inspiration when it comes to painting?
Mary: I create imaginative, colourful paintings with inspiration derived from travel, the natural world, urban landscapes and imagination.
I specialise in bold expressionist paintings using intuitive processes. What this means is that I usually start a painting without a clear plan about what the outcome might be. I like to work in a free and chaotic way to create work that has an energy and dynamism that comes from the sheer joy of making marks and playing with colour.
DH: Why did you choose a cabin to use as your studio?
Mary: The Dunster House Lantera Cabin ticked all the boxes. The scale was perfect for my small city garden. And I didn’t need to worry about building regs because Dunster House are careful to ensure buildings comply with height restrictions and so on.
I also liked the design because there are five big windows. Artists need plenty of light. I’m very happy that I chose his design – it perfectly fits my needs.
DH: And last… How excited are you about being in the shed of the Year competition?
Mary: To say I am excited to make the final is an understatement – what is lovely about Cuprinol Shed of the year is that no one is especially after the actual prize although of course, I’d love to win!
Response to my Instagram on announcement day was so heartwarming, and I was bowled over by the way followers were cheering me on. I think Shed of the Year is just brilliant – it’s why I entered albeit at the very last moment.
Here at Dunster House, we are firmly rooting for Mary and her fantastic shed! But she needs your help too. The Cuprinol Shed of the Year winners are chosen by popular vote. So if you’re a fan of her beautiful blue cabin (like we are) visit http://readersheds.co.uk/index.cfm?type=Workshop/Studio and vote for her!
You can also find more about Mary Price’s art on her website: https://artistintheshed.com/
We also want to thank Mary Price, @southwestnewsmedia and Dave Evitts for the photos on this post.
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