<h1>Lace oh.... pretty old lace!</h1>

Damsons in a Chinese Bowl

I first came across the work of Heather Hacking in London way back in 2007 when her paintings were exhibited at Sotheby's Institute of Art where I was attending an intensive course seminar on antique jewellery. I walked away with a postcard of her work with this image you are seeing here above. to this day I regret not having bought one of her paintings right there on the spot but it was late in the day and there was nobody attending the exhibition.

On searching for her webpage I discovered more about this freelance  illustrator and designer. This prompted me to get in touch with her eventually as this blog developed. Here is something from Heather - a comment on her work and inspiration....

"I paint mainly in watercolours and in all subjects: landscapes, seascapes in Britain, Europe and America. Occasionally, I use oils, gouache and pastels."

Violets in a Meissen Bowl

One watercolour subject that I prefer is Still Life on a table and a background of antique lace and vintage fabrics, which is a particular challenge in watercolour as one cannot use white paint. The white of the lace is conveyed by the white of the paper, and its shadows, creases, cutwork and stitching indicated by light layers of delicate colour. The lace and fabrics can compliment flowers, fruit and decorated items of Victorian, Edwardian and more modern china.

Figs

I collect Victorian and other vintage tablecloths, dresses, christening robes, embroidered place mats etc for paintings. I have a life-sized watercolour of the broderie anglaise robe that my father was christened in (and I have a photograph of him wearing it)…..he is 90 years-old this year."

Heather has had three books I have written and illustrated, published by Hodder and Stoughton. She has also illustrated books for primary school teachers and designed and painted hundreds of greetings cards for a number of British and American companies. She lives near Richmond Park (London) with her husband and two cats and has five grandchildren.

Forget-Me-Nots in a Bowl