Cliff Dean is interviewing Annie Soudain at Pett Methodist Church on March 8. Annie has written a book called The Marsh, the Sea and the Sky and it will be on sale with her cards on the day.
Annie is an award-winning artist who is well known in the south east of England. Many of her linocuts feature the landscape around Rye Bay and Romney Marsh. She lives locally in Fairlight and takes her inspiration from her local walks and the South Downs observed on regular drives to Lewes. “Every day,” she explained, “the light on the sea is different and I never tire of the views. Sometimes driving into the park the colours and patterns on the sea take my breath away.”
Annie was born on a farm belonging to her paternal grandfather in the Kent North Downs between Dover and Canterbury. She spent her childhood in Cornwall where she discovered her love of nature. After school in Dover and art college in Canterbury she went to Brighton to do her training to become an art teacher.
Her work, which is eye-catching and lively, depicts flowers, birds and landscapes. She produces small print runs because her method of printing is complicated and labour-intensive. It is known as reduction method and it uses only one block with progressive cutting, inking and printing.
All her work is a celebration of nature and her deep enjoyment and understanding of form and pattern help us to see the natural world more clearly. Much of her work features landscapes from Fairlight, Pett Level, Rye Harbour and Romney Marsh.
This talk is rare opportunity to meet the legendary local artist.
Image Credits: Annie Soudain , Kt bruce .