About the Artist
Rosalind Pierson
CFA (Oxon), PHS, PPRMS, MAA, MASF
I like little things and from a very early age used a number of 2″x 3″ booklets for crayon drawing. One of these somehow survived, turning up a few years ago. I had no memory until then of these little notepads and was interested to realise that I had been using the same dimensions for my paintings many years later.
My grandfather was a sign writer and calligrapher and a few surviving examples sent to my father prompted me to paint miniature pictures on letters to friends, having no skill for calligraphy.
Currently Exhibiting
Rosalind currently exhibits with the Elford Gallery, Tavistock; Norton Way Gallery, Letchworth; A2 Gallery, Wells.
NOTE: Hover over image to see more detail.
Foundation in Art
I am not a natural artist unlike many who left their cradle clutching a pencil and drawing pad but there was enough interest in painting while still at school, to lead me to art school. The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art, Oxford, was relatively traditional, teaching painting in oils, the basics of life drawing and anatomy, still life and art history.
While studying these subjects, they were interspersed with miniature watercolour landscapes and general obsession with detail, much to the exasperation of my tutor who commented in one life drawing session ‘only you would have included the clock on the wall’.
Life drawing held no interest for me and even now, only a handful of my paintings have ever included a human figure. While oil paints were the medium used during art school, it was watercolour which I felt was more suited to fine detail and it has been the preferred medium ever since.
Three years of art school did not lead to any career decision, but a one-man show followed closely on, with further shows over the years in between earning a living. Painting became a full time ‘hobby’. Having no guidance or information on exhibiting, I picked up random ideas, the first coming from a fellow student while at art school, suggesting submitting to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1974 with a miniature, which was accepted.
Development
The following year, while holidaying in Wales in 1975, the steward at a local art exhibition mentioned in conversation a miniature art society in London – the Royal Miniature Society -which became my introduction to the world of contemporary miniatures.
Having never set out to be an artist it was a very casual beginning, but life does lead us on random paths, and it is a little surprising to realise that nearly fifty years on, miniatures are still at the centre of my life.
The paintings in the Gallery section are the result of a record which began with digital photography, and include a few of the other subjects which side- tracked me from time to time.
NOTE: Hover over image to see more detail.
NOTE: Hover over image to see more detail.
Inspiration
I paint to try and produce on paper the beauty of the scenery, mostly around Devon, and capture in a small scale, what it is that draws the eye to a particular composition.
A miniature painting takes too long to paint outside and I have always used a camera to record compositions. Low light often creates more atmosphere so early morning and evening are preferable, while bright sunny days with blue skies and white fluffy clouds are generally avoided. Getting up at the crack of dawn however, is a rare event these days, particularly when the effort is rewarded with endless rain.
Rivers and streams feature a great deal in the Devon landscape so learning to paint water is ongoing; there are so many different forms, from still reflections to water raging over rocks. In art, anything can catch the eye however unlikely, but with scenery, all the work has already been done by nature.
The challenge is to capture a little of the beauty and variety onto paper and not be too overwhelmed by the fact that nature always does it so much better.
Exhibitions
1974 – Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
1976 – Tavistock Solo Show
1977 – Associate member RMS
1977 – Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
1977 – Tavistock Solo Show
1978 – Wells Somerset Solo Show
1978 – Paris Salon
1979 – Elected Membre Associe Société des Artistes Français
1979 – Packhorse Galleries, Bath exhibition,
with Jennifer Buxton RMS
1979 – ‘British Artists’ Bilan de l’Art Contemporain, Paris
1979 – RMS Full Membership
1980 – MASF Exhibition
1980 – Tavistock Solo Show
1981 – Bilan de l’Art Contemporain, Quebec
1981 – Gallery Karsenty, Monaco, Group Exhibition
1981 – Paris Salon
1982 – Burwood Gallery, Wells, Group Exhibition
1982 – Bilan de l’Art Contemporain, New York
1983 – Hereford Solo Show
1984 – Burwood Gallery, Wells Group Exhibition
1985 – Hereford Solo Show
1989 – Tavistock Solo Show
1993 – Tavistock Solo Show
1996 – Princetown Exhibition, with Marcelle Shears RMS
1997 – Jersey Ci, Solo Show
1999 – Mayflower Galleries, Tavistock Solo Show
2000 – RA Summer Exhibition 1 Entry
2003 – RA Summer Exhibition 2 Entries
2012 – World Exhibition Moscow
2023 – Rosalind currently exhibits with Elford Gallery, Tavistock and Norton Way Gallery, Letchworth
Awards
2018 – Hilliard Society ‘President’s Choice’ Award
2017 – Hilliard Society ‘Llewellyn Alexander Gallery Award’
2014 – RMS Prince of Wales Award
2012 – RMS Gold Memorial Bowl Award
2008 – World Exhibition, Tasmania ‘Best Landscape’ Award
2008 – RMS Peter Charles Booth Memorial Award
2007 – Hilliard Society ‘Llewellyn Alexander Gallery’ Award
2005 – RMS ʻLlwellyn Alexander Gallery’ Award
2005 – Cider Painters of America Best of Show’
2004 – Casper Artísts Guild ‘Best in Show’
2004 – MASF ‘First in Floral and Botanical’
2003 – RMS ‘Group Award
2002 – RMS ‘Fairman Award’
2002 – MASF ‘First in Landscape’
2001 – Hiliard Socety ‘President’s Choice Award’, ‘Wildlife Award’
1999 – RMS Llewellyn Alexander Gallery ‘Best set of Miniatures’ Award
1999 – RMS Gold Memorial Bowl Honourable Mention
1996 – MASF ‘Best in Show’
1995 – RMS Gold Memorial Bowl Honourable Mention
1994 – MASF ‘Excellence in all Entries’, ‘Best Traditional Watercolour’
1981 – Paris Salon ‘Gold Medal’
1978 – Paris Salon ‘Silver Medal’
Gallery
See more of Rosalind Pierson's work in her Gallery section. Showcasing a selection of her work spanning several decades.
Exhibition of Miniature Paintings 2023
by renowned artist
Rosalind Pierson
PHS PPRMS MAA, MASF
10am - 4pm, September 16th - 23rd (Closed Sun & Mon)
The Guildhall • Tavistock PL19 OAE
Click here to see the pieces in the exhibition along with their sale prices.
