Heather O Catchpole hsf
Born in Canada, Heather grew up in South Africa and in 1962, after three years at Durban's Natal School of Arts and Crafts, she qualified with a Diploma in Commercial Art. After two years working in the Art Dept of a Johannesburg printing company, she began her travels and finally ended up in England.
In London she met a man who wanted to produce greeting cards...all he needed was an artist! She agreed, on condition that she could move to the country and have a dog. Thus 'Ginny' was to become her first of the many beloved cocker spaniels throughout her life.
While happily settled in Somerset and producing cards, Heather was asked if she could do pastel portraits of two small children. She said she would 'have a go'...and so began her career in pastel portraiture of children and dogs. (It makes her smile that the dog portraits have always evoked more emotion than that of the humans!).
Now married, in 1978 she visited the Royal Miniature Society exhibition in London. A completely new art form to her, she was an immediate and very thrilled convert. Given a wonderful masterclass day by the brilliant miniaturist Jennifer Buxton, she quickly invested in ivorine, watercolours and tiny brushes...'and off I went'. In time she became a full RMS member, which she enjoyed for around forty years before becoming an Hon. Retired Member. She also joined the Florida and South African Societies and was delighted to get a miniature into the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1982.
It was also in 1982 that, hearing of a very newly formed miniature art society in Wells, Heather became a Founder Member of the Hilliard Society of Miniaturists.
It's well over forty happy years that she has been on the Council, been the Social Secretary and has also served as President with many wonderful friendships having been forged through the Society.
Other highlights over the years have included giving Drawing Classes and Lectures on the History of English Portrait Miniatures, sometimes as a double act with Roz Pierson on Contemporary Miniatures or Gillie Hoyte Byrom on her vitreous enamel portrait miniatures.
Great enjoyment has also been affored in the production of two lighthearted books on her art with dogs.
