Maria Cooper

`Toucan!'

Maria paints bold and striking images of colourful, quirky birds.   Toucans, flamingos, penguins and puffins are captured in comical style in loose, vibrant watercolours and on large canvasses in oil and acrylic.

This passion for colour and Maria’s loose, painterly approach to her work are evident throughout her extremely wide range of subject matter which includes still life, landscape and the sea.

For many artists today, art is a career choice after A-levels and a fine Art degree.  It was not like that for Maria.  Her life as an artist follows on from her previous existence working as a barrister specialising in marine insurance!  She worked originally in the City of London for Charles Taylor plc and then on the Quayside in Newcastle upon Tyne.  Her opportunity to explore her creative talents arose when she took a career break after the birth of her son in 1996.

Maria joined Network artists in Northumberland (an association of over 200 professional artists living and working in Northumberland) and was encouraged to participate in the Network Art Tour in 2005 and 2006.  “I opened my home as a temporary gallery and invited the public in to view my work for the first time”.  The experience of the Art Tour was hugely positive and Maria was thrilled to sell virtually every piece she had on show.   Maria now paints full time from her home and studio in Haydon Bridge, Northumberland.

This exhibition at High Head comprises a selection of original “toucan” paintings in acrylic and some limited edition prints.

Maria's next exhibition at High Head is:

28th February - 22nd April 2008