Newcastle Art, Drawing Classes and Lessons with Vivienne Nelson

Ronald Searle
My first influence was the British illustrator Ronald Searle – I was
given one of his books called “Merry England etc” at the age of
seven. His exquisite pen drawings use fine delicate detail combined
with strong black shapes to portray the eccentricities in British society.
His illustrations are both startling and full of wit while also being
understated with a whimsical twist. I also appreciate this view on life
and find interest in the detail of the odd and the unusual, for example
I am drawn to subjects like small boats seemingly stranded in a green
paddock while awaiting the start of the prawning season, or an oddly
cramped shop that tells a tale of the city it belongs in and the people
living in it.