The art of Louise Dear

I was born in Hampshire to a beautiful, artistic, free spirited young woman and her tall handsome naval officer husband. My earliest memories are of an incredibly happy family life with time spent in such exotic locations as South Africa & the Far East. When I was six, we returned to England & set up home in a small country village back in the beautiful Hampshire countryside. I attended the local school and spent long happy holidays building dens, dams and tree houses in our large rambling garden with my brother and sister.

My grandparents had owned a coach company and my grandfather’s skills as a sign writer were emblazoned along the sides of the buses. My mother inherited this artistic flare and her paintings of birds, flowers and butterflies adorned the walls, furniture and fabric of our home. Art was actively encouraged, and many an evening meal was eaten amongst the artistic debris that festooned the kitchen table. From papier-mâché dragons to chicken runs, Easter bonnets to handmade rugs, pantomime scenery to disco outfits created out of curtain linings or plastic bags.

Initially intending a career within the rag trade, I left home to study fashion at Medway College of Art & Design yet with the spirit of adventure having been instilled so young, at the age of 21, my boyfriend and I purchased a 1963 Bedford ambulance, painted it ‘honey pink’ and promptly set off to see the world.

My time was spent working whilst soaking up the sumptuous splendours of Europe; Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and dipping an inquisitive toe into the divine indulgence of North Africa.

Returning home in 1987, we bought a three month return ticket to India yet did not return to England for a further seven years. My adventures took me travelling extensively throughout South East Asia, continually gorging on its extreme delights until eventually arriving in Darwin, North Australia. From here we travelled overland to Sydney where we set up home and I worked as an Exhibition Designer for Lego, Australia.

In 1993 I came back to my roots, gave birth to my greatest creation, my daughter Lama and returned to full-time education.

Now settled in the picturesque town of Totnes, Devon, I have been working as a professional artist since graduating from University College Chichester in 1998.

I have exhibited extensively over the past decade. From London to New York and Sydney to L.A., shown at the Royal Academy and sparked the interest of several major museums. My fabulous adventures continue to inspire my work creating paintings which are vibrant, passionate and full of romance.