12th July 2012

LYME REGIS: Artist Pat Campbell was inspired by her father

IN a series of interviews leading up to Lyme Regis ArtsFest 2012 (September 8th to 16th), Anthea Simmons introduces readers to some of the local people involved in the tenth annual festival. This week she meets Pat Campbell, whose work will be on show for much of July in the Town Mill’s Courtyard Gallery.

WHAT is the story of your involvement in the arts?

I’ve painted and drawn from a very early age. My father was an amateur watercolourist and he encouraged me, teaching me about perspective and to share his love of the natural world.

I remember him setting me the challenge of drawing a matchbox and we often played the squiggle game - turning a random mark into a picture. That really teaches you to look at form.

I was always doodling but I didn’t do anything formal with my interest. Instead, I trained as a social worker and worked in South East London. In the eighties, a group of politically like-minded women got together and formed a Women’s Art Group (actually, we did have a token male before he got a job on the buses!). We met once a week, exhibited in galleries in Southwark and Peckham and passed on skills learned on our travels. I showed the others how to do silk painting after doing a course with Christine Allison while on holiday! It’s funny how it all works out!

Now I am here, part of ArtsFest, and art is a big part of my life. I still keep in touch with those women, though, and sometimes I miss the buzz of London but I have developed a real taste for peace and quiet!

WHAT are your sources of inspiration?

Well, my father was really important in getting me going. We would sometimes go on day trips to the coast in a van he’d borrowed from work (no money for holidays) and he’d encourage me to enjoy the beauty around me.

Later, I drew inspiration from the masters, especially Hockney, Matisse, Bonnard and Picasso. And I love Hopper, those people in hotel rooms or bars, wonderful!

I also love sculpture, particularly Barbara Hepworth. I do do stonecarving, though it is more difficult now that I have some osteo-arthritis. I also tried my hand at woodcarving after seeing beautiful Maori carvings in New Zealand.

IF you could be locked in any gallery which would it be and if you could own any artwork what would it be?

My favourite gallery is Tate St Ives. I just love the juxtaposition of the sea and that lovely curved room. It’s always been great weather when I have visited – blue, blue skies and creamy yellow sand.

I also love the Te Papa Museum of New Zealand in Wellington and the Getty in California.

You could lob me one of Barbara Hepworth’s small marble sculptures and I’d be really happy! I’d love some of Hockney’s pencil sketches too. We’ve got a print of his “Mulholland Drive” on the wall. I love it.

HOW long have you been involved in ArtsFest?

Since 2007. I had a solo show in the summer in Axminster and that gave me the confidence to get involved. I think we are incredibly lucky to be able to exhibit in the Baptist Church Hall. It is a great space and they are so generous and accommodating.

WHAT are you looking forward to at this year’s ArtsFest?

I thought last year’s Malthouse Exhibition was brilliant and I am really glad that we are going for the universal 12 inch square format again. I think those squares make for a really strong impact all hung together and it emphasises that sense of togetherness which is such an important part of ArtsFest.

The opening party is always really good. I never miss that! I do wish there were more sculptures in the shows and around Lyme but you can’t have everything.

LYME REGIS: Artist Pat Campbell was inspired by her father

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