Theresa Case

I live in a beautiful part of Devon and work from a studio in my garden... a ‘room of my own’ away from the chaos of a house with two young children. I have painted and made jewellery since childhood (making earrings at a piece rate for my mother’s business saw me become very quick at the latter). In 2005, after an extended trip abroad I decided to take up both hobbies for my main income.

I previously worked for Colin Kellam’s pottery, decorating and designing pots in his style. Working for Colin helped me become much freer and faster in my own work and this reflects, in particular, in my illustrative work.

I work in many different styles and medias from pen and ink to oil on canvas I don’t really have a preferred medium though I do enjoy the freedom of a sketch book and a black pen.

I painted my first name portrait in 2002 on the birth of a niece for whom I wanted a special welcome present. Since then I have painted many more with all different themes varying from pixies, music, sport, transport, toys, pirates and more. I love to paint them as, whilst they are commissioned to a theme, I have a lot of creative freedom to add extra details and interest. It is very illustrative work, I have also illustrated for other people including the educational department at English Heritage.

My other main line of painting work is portraits of pets and people. They are intensive and hard work but I enjoy the process and reward of capturing a likeness, I always leave painting the eyes until last as that is when the painting really comes to life. I display a lot of my work at local shows and exhibitions and sell my jewellery there too. My jewellery is mostly beaded and quite funky. I can’t really remember learning how to make at as I have been doing it since childhood. My mother now writes books on the subject and I wonder how long it is before I can get my girls working for me…