Artist of the Week 11 June 2021: Pam Asley
Eleanor introduces Pinner Sketch Club artist Pam Asley

'As a child, Pam was often found with a pen or pencil in her hand, writing, doodling or drawing. When she was given paint boxes she loved the bright new colours and now, many years later can still recall the smell of those shiny blocks of paint. As a teenager, a well-meaning aunt gave her a painting by numbers set but Pam wanted to do her own thing so used the canvas board, paints and brushes to create her own painting – a still life of kitchen objects. She then bought some oil paints and better brushes and started painting seriously. But she found oil paints slow drying and messy, so she tried using acrylics and enjoyed painting with a palette knife. Oils have never been used again!

While working in the plans department at the Land Registry she was taught how to lay a wash – a valuable skill which she uses to this day. After a few years, Pam found the work rather monotonous, especially when she was promoted and her job was to check other people’s work rather than using the drawing and painting skills she loved. So she decided to change careers and trained to be a teacher, collecting an A level in art from Harrow Art School along the way. One valuable piece of advice from the A level tutor Sam Marshall was ‘Look a hundred times and draw once’.

Keen to try other media Pam started painting in watercolour, something she still does and loves to this day. Adventures into line and wash, pastels, mixed media and collage, have followed and using foam rollers with acrylics has been a liberating experience.

Wanting to exhibit her paintings Pam joined local art societies and soon began to sell her work. She says Pinner Sketch Club is the biggest and most prestigious club she has belonged to, as apart from the highly regarded annual exhibition, there are many opportunities to paint with fellow members, critiques and demonstrations.

The subjects Pam chooses to paint are mostly landscapes. Seaside subjects are very close to her heart. For a few years, Pam took part in the Worthing Open Studios, staying with friends who ran a bed and breakfast in the town and where they displayed and sold many of her paintings of boats, beach huts and seascapes. Local views are always popular and two of Pam’s paintings have been bought by Bushey Museum.'

West House Panorama

Low water Broadstairs Harbour

Spring

Bosham

Rocky Coastline