Precisely done

Inspired by the Kent countryside and its buildings, Meopham artist Anthony Nield is seeking always to improve

- Diana Crampton

Anthony Nield moved to Kent from the very different surroundings of Bermuda in 1992. Today he lives near Meopham, where his kitchen serves as his studio, with plenty of room for an easel. When the weather is good, his garden becomes his base.

For his work with the Property Service Agency International, Anthony travelled widely around the world, but he appreciates the Kent landscape: “I find living and working in the beautiful Kent countryside very inspirational for my work. All the villages offer wonderful material for me to paint and draw.”

If I were to give Anthony’s work a genre, I would call it ‘property portraits’, as his are often delicate pen and ink works of Kent’s building and cottages, which he can easily convert into prints.

Not a trained artist, Anthony thinks his skill levels may have improved more quickly had he had formal art training.

“However, I firmly believe that no matter how skilled you are, constant and regular painting is necessary,” he says. “Looking back over my many sketch pads over the years, they instantly tell me practice is vital if you want to continue to improve.”

Anthony adds: “I love the challenge of watercolour, the unpredictability, the speed and the fact it can be quickly picked up and put away, unlike oils. I only started pen and ink several years ago, as I did pen and watercolour.” Although referred to as wash, Anthony says his own work is usually more detailed.