It’s Complicated: Encaustic transfer and oil on board, 83x 66 cm

Suzanne Patterson

Having left Central St Martins with a first-class degree, I carried on making my own work whilst also working as an art journalist on several magazines, and also for two years worked for Charles Saatchi producing essays for in-house publications and catalogues.

After working in Wood Lofts (at Underwood Street in London), I relocated to Hastings with my then partner. With the end of our relationship, I moved to St Leonards (prior to its rehabilitation) and I have been here for over ten years.After this move, I began to make work with more commitment and renewed engagement, which is something I think can often happen for female artists later in life. Fortunately, this later-life resurgence is not the hindrance it used to be when the emphasis was often more on young artists. Now we have women as diverse as Paula Rego and  Rose Wylie also being recognised.

Recently, in order to engage in dialogue about my work, I completed the online course with Turps Banana Art School. My mentor was artist Dan Coombs. I found it helpful to have an external eye to assist in a mutual analysis of my reference points, and to ask in-depth questions about my work. I then continued to make art, and for me, lockdown was a great opportunity to do this – especially because I received the Developing Your Creative Practice grant from the Arts Council during this period.

I have deliberately avoided the pressure of having to show as I have developed my own ever- changing and experimental voice. I am not interested in self-promotion for its own sake, preferring to develop my strengths in private until I have a large -body of work. I now have that work, which I am satisfied to put out there.


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