The Council

Peter has loved drawing and painting for as long as he can remember and has painted in miniature for more than 35 years. He has exhibited at the Royal Miniatures Society since 2012, Guild Artists Exhibition since 2012, Society of Limners since 2014 and the Hilliard Society since 2015. He has run, with his wife Anne, the Towngate Art Group that encompasses gallery, framing, fine art printing and publishing for over 38 years and now also runs Polymers Plus making miniature frames for miniaturists and collectors around the world…. while he continues to paint his detailed miniatures. Peter was elected president of the Society in 2024.

I have been a member of the Hilliard Society since 1997 and I am a member of the Royal Miniature Society. I organised a local art group for over 30 years and, together with partners, owned a small gallery in Oxfordshire which specialised in exhibiting the work of local artists. Maggy was President of the Hilliard Society from 2018 until 2021.

Heather trained as a commercial artist in the sixties, in South Africa before coming to live in England. She established herself as a successful artist in pastels, of portraits both canine and human and it was in 1980 when she began painting and exhibiting miniatures in watercolour on ivorine. Her love of dogs, together with her talent and sense of humour all come together in her book ‘Heidi, Holly and Other Dogs’ – a must for every dog lover!

Tracy is an artist and illustrator based in Scotland. First introduced to miniature art in 2007, she was instantly hooked and was delighted to be awarded The Royal Miniature Society Gold Memorial Bowl the following year. She hasn't stopped since and loves every minute, fitting in her miniature paintings amongst her illustration work as time allows. Tracy manages the Society website.

I am a professional artist who has had a long career in commercial art: book illustration, textile design, stationery etc. I always loved fine detail and have gravitated towards miniature painting over the last ten years, becoming a member of both the The Hilliard Society and The Royal Miniature Society. I have enjoyed participating in the annual exhibition in Wells and found the people to be warm and friendly. I hope to encourage newcomers and to spread the word as the Society's Social Media editor.

I had seen miniature paintings before in the Victoria and Albert Museum, but never had thought about painting one myself until I visited the exhibition in Wells on a day trip in 2022. I was totally enthralled by the work I saw. I enjoyed painting botanical watercolours and had recently started drawing with coloured pencils. Encouraged by Rosalind Pierson, a past president of the Hilliard Society, who was demonstrating that day, I tentatively entered a coloured pencil drawing for the exhibition in 2023. To my utter amazement it was accepted, and I also won a prize! I live in Devon and divide my time now between my work as a nurse, spending time with my family and horses and trying to improve my miniature artwork.

Adrian has worked as clinician, teacher and leader in more than six careers including educational technology, veterinary science and psychotherapy. He has worked professionally in the theatre as a teacher and as a choreographer of three operas. He has danced in more than 50 productions on the amateur stage. He has also led personal development workshops for the last 20 years. Experience spanning medical science, academia, teaching, theatre and psychotherapy has led him on a continuing exploration of the balance between science and art and their relationship to the human spirit. His love of miniature painting and long-term membership of the Hilliard Society has gradually led to more than forty works by inspirational Hilliard artists gracing the walls of his Bristol home. He is uncomfortable with the description “collector” and the numbers are something of a surprise to him! His involvement with the Hilliard Society has certainly been an important part of his life for many years.

Katie was a secondary school English teacher for many years and has also worked in publishing, editing books and websites. She began her role as Executive Secretary for the Hilliard Society in July 2023; she combines this with freelance editorial work and escorting groups on classical music holidays. She is an active musician, playing the violin and singing in her spare time.