Although it may be a little difficult to fully enjoy the Essex experience at the moment, Michelle Parsons has always loved to find inspiration from her surroundings.
‘I live next to Norsey Woods in Billericay,’ says Michelle. ‘My house overlooks the trees and I love watching the different birds in the garden. I have bird boxes outside the studio and regularly paint the blue tits that nest. Foxes and muntjac deer are also regular visitors to my house, so who wouldn’t be inspired to paint wildlife!’
Who indeed? In fact, Michelle knew she wanted to be an artist from an early age.
‘I loved drawing cartoons as a child,’ she adds. ‘I would sit on the floor as a six-year-old copying images from the Beano and the Dandy comics. My parents were very supportive and would buy me felt-tips and drawing paper. Art has always been my thing; it’s my escape from life and my security blanket. I just couldn’t imagine life without art.’
As Michelle grew up, it was an easy choice to progress to studying Fine Art.
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