Statement

Other than a strong belief in the importance of truth and beauty, I have little insight into what compels me to paint. An artist whose work I hold in high esteem once told me that truth and beauty are dead. I strongly disagree. Certainly life is full of the bad, sad and downright unfair, but by dwelling on such things we risk becoming incapable of achieving positive change. As artists, I believe that if we have any mission at all, it is to lift the spirit of the viewer. Even if our effect on the viewer is negligible, an emphasis on the existence of truth and beauty in all aspects of life should be among our highest aspirations. I have heard it said that there are three types of artists: the reporter, the commentator, and the author. I have always striven to be the author.

English Scenes

England is still home for me. Often times when I am unsure of what to paint, images of England spring from my brush unbidden. I return to England each year where I spend time sketching the aspects of the English country life that I capture in my paintings. A very happy childhood in the Northumbrian countryside has blessed me with a lifetime of subject matter and inspiration.

Floral Scenes, Butterflies and Hummingbirds

I love to watch the incredible beauty of the natural world up close. I come from a family that covets the intricacies of country gardens with their abundance of flora and fauna. I enjoy portraying the dynamics of the intimate world in my focus on insects, flowers and birds.

American Southwest

I, like many before me, have discovered some of the many scenic wonders of the Southwest. I cherish the color and light of the southwest’s expansive landscape. Most of all, I find the indigenous people of this region to be a delight for both the eye and the spirit.

Susan E Routledge