Gallery: June Forster

Llunwyr Lluniau ~ The Picturemakers: a collective of artists working in mid Wales

Biography

June Forster

june's photo

I trained in Micropalaeontology, but painting was never far from my thoughts. However, it always seemed a mysterious process and even as a youngster on trips to Wales I would carry around art materials and never use them! It was as if the spirit was willing, but the flesh wasn’t! It was only after the birth of my son that I began to ‘dabble’ with paint and pretty soon I realised it was what I wanted to do.

I attended drawing classes in Ystrad Meurig in 1996 that helped me on my way. There I met Heulwen (also of Picture Makers) and we encouraged each other to eventually go on to the Fine Art degree at Aberystwyth.

Doing the BA was challenging but good for my work as I finally got to grips with oil paint. The intensity of working for the degree for three years, together with the opportunity to study art history resulted in a rapid development of my artwork.

However, I felt I had only just scratched the surface, so went on to do the MA Fine Art and now I am pursing an art practice PhD, which feels like quite an adventure. I am also enjoying working as studio tutor for first year undergraduates at the School of Art.

I would like to think that there is more to being an artist than producing pictures. It is about generosity of spirit, which after all, will reflect in the work we produce, and also the desire and capacity to make a difference.