A Celebration of Europe...

​Hello!

 When asked about what inspires my work I often refer to it as a 'celebration of the British countryside & coast'.  I love my country.   I have been blessed with growing up in the beautiful west country and it will always be a massive source of inspiration for my work.

​However...

I love Europe too and have been equally blessed to move freely around it in my lifetime, seeing and exploring the cities I read about and fell in love with as a child.  Visiting the galleries and staring in awe at the actual works of art I saw in books that ignited the passion in my heart to study art and design.  Looking at those masterpieces quite simply made me feel proud to be human.

For these reasons, please forgive me today for indulging this love with a bit of a list of why I love Europe.  It is my list, as a British designer, giving my  'reasons to be cheerful!' and most importantly thankful for our European neighbours.

It's in no particular order and is just for fun.  It is a random brain dump
that needs to come out of my head and heart...

Da Vinchi, Michaelangelo, Van Gough, Picasso, Renoir, Monet, Manet, Degas, Matisse, ​Mucha, Goya, Gaudi, Dufy, Mondrian, Raphael, Botticelli, Gauguin, Vermeer, Cezanne, Rembrant, Dali, Klimt, Seurat, Kandinsky, Klee, Miro, Rubens, Ballet, Opera, Orchestra, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, Puccini, Handel, Philosophy, Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, Voltaire, Classic Literature, Ibsen, Hugo, Joyce, Hans Christian Anderson, Style & Fashion, Chanel, Dior, Versace, Lacroix, Armani, Givenchy, Gautier, Cardin, Hulanicki, Louboutin, Blahnik, Some Good Tunes: ABBA, Kraftwerk, Deus, The Hives, Royksopp, Falco & Nena (for whom I thank for helping me pass my GCSE German), Generally Delicious Food & Drink Especially: Prosecco, Champagne, Belgian Chocolate, Pizza, Pasta, Panettone, Croissants, Creme Brûlée, Black Forest Gateau, Danish Pastries, Tiramisu, Gelato, Cheesecake and of course Garlic Bread!...
​  

I could go on and on,  but funnily enough I am starting to get a bit peckish!...

​I hope this very brief, top of my head list, illustrated throughout with pages from my old sketchbooks of my past travels*,  has in some way inspired you too.

I hope that it makes other Brits also feel thankful that we have such amazing neighbours.

​Most of all, I hope that we all continue to celebrate everything that is good about our continent, together!

Have a lovely week everyone
Best wishes

Angie

* Sketchbook images from the top:
image 1 - Madrid circa 1996, image 2 - Paris circa 1998, image 3 - Majorca circa 1995
It seems I was better at keeping a sketchbook of my travels in the mid '90s