Lynn Norton

I am local artist based in a village in Cambridgeshire.

I have used many different mediums over the years and up until recently have been inspired by those that are water-based as I have always loved the unpredictability of the results.

With regard to my acrylic ink work, I haven’t been influenced by any particular artist for this work, but arrived at it through experimentation. I am strongly influenced by the natural world and in particular looking closely at objects to reveal their beauty. The subject matter for the acrylic ink works calls for dramatic shapes and the natural world provides these in abundance. Some of my work includes birds – those with striking plumage or birds of prey, with their amazing eyes and beaks. These have mostly been done on a larger format, to create a more dramatic effect. I leave the surrounding areas as untouched paper, as I feel the subject needs to have space to breathe.

​Soft pastels are a medium I have started to use quite a bit recently, as they work really well when I want to portray landscapes. I take time to create texture on the boards I am working on, followed by an underpainting of loose acrylic. When I apply the pastel, the pastel hits the raised areas, leaving the acrylic showing through. This creates a real depth and interest to the work, which I could not achieve with just straight pastels. Sometimes I find that the mark-making created by the acrylic paint is so interesting that I alter what I am going to do with the pastel layer and leave it showing through. As an artist, one always has to be prepared for the unexpected – and relish it when it happens!

Website: lynn-norton.co.uk