SUSAN LLEWELYN ELVIDGE. NDD. ATD

CALLIGRAPHER; ARTIST; TEACHER

QUALIFICATIONS
   *National Diploma in Design,  (Leicester)
  * Art Teaching Diploma with merit (Southampton)

 

 I studied Calligraphy, Lettering and Sculpture whilst at Leicester College of Art & Design  followed by an Art Specialist Teaching Diploma, awarded by Southampton University.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE 
10 years as a Specialist teacher of Arts & Crafts in secondary education with experience in Grammar, Secondary Modern and Comprehensive schools and as a tutor on evening courses in local Colleges of Further Education.in the UK.
One year as a freelance artist, and as a tutor in Graphics at the college in Cape Town , South Africa

 Tutor of Calligraphy and Painting  for over 20 years on Adult Leisure Courses, at several different campuses in Hertfordshire..

Tutor on one day or short residential courses for adults on Calligraphy,Drawing & Painting. Demonstrations and talks at various venues in Hertfordshire.
My commissions now include :-

CALLIGRAPHY: Traditional eg
Books of Remembrance, Dedications.
Wedding and events stationery; Place cards, table plans, envelopes and invitations.
Book entries and certificates
The St Albans High School for Girls ''Book of Honours'',
and St Albans City & District Council Mayoral and Aldermen Books & Certificates.

 CALLIGRAPHY:Expressive
Expressive interpretations of words and images using water colours and gold leaf. (See gallery)
Poetry or prose, with or without illustration, colour. gold leaf
I have developed and now specialise in *illustrated calligraphic panels depicting the memorable moments in the life of the subject. (see examples in the gallery)
*These are usually commissioned as special gifts to mark a milestone in the recipients'' life, eg special birthday or anniversary. They involve many hours research and detailed work so must be ordered well in advance.

MURALS
In 1992 & 1997 the Education department at St Albans Abbey asked me to design and supervise the making of two collages for the Nave, depicting the early history of the Abbey. They were each 13 metres long by 1 metre high and were made in collaboration with several hundred 11-12 year old schoolchildren who spent a day at the Abbey as part of an ''educational experience'' visit. Working in groups of 30, the children helped to stick fabric pieces onto my drawn design to fill the images with colour. These 2 panels still hang in the Abbey nave. (see galley)

In 2000 I was asked to produce a third panel, as a Millennium celebration to hang in the Abbey Refectory. This mural subsequently won First Prize in the St Albans City & District Council section of the Art at Work Awards in December 2000. ( Due to refurbishment this has been put into storage until a new position is decided)

As a result of these collages I was asked to produce a mural to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of St Michael''s Church School in St Albans. All those involved with the school helped to apply the fabric to the images I had drawn- with children aged from 4 to 12 years of age working with teachers, governors and parents to make the finished result a real community effort.

PICTURES

Landscapes, and Portraits of people and animals using pastels or water colour paints. (see gallery)
My work has sold to both public and private clients in the UK and abroad and I have demonstrated and given talks to a number of organisations.

DEMONSTRATIONS & TEACHING
In 1997 and 2002 I was invited to be a demonstrating exhibitor of Calligraphy at the two National Exhibitions of ''Flowers & Crafts'' in the St Albans Abbey.

CLASSES & TALKS / DEMONSTRATIONS
Calligraphy continues to be popular but qualified teachers are scarce, so I still teach a group in St Albans on a regular basis, and am happy to promote the craft through talks and demonstrations to small groups.

ENQUIRIES:
If you are interested in learning Calligraphy I teach a fortnightly course in St Albans for adults (at any level.)  Each class lasts 3 hours and students need to attend for a full term of at least 7 classes. The classes run on Friday afternoons. Call or email for more details.

I exhibit occasionally but I work mostly to commission.
My work is in collections in the UK and abroad.

  NB. Pictures shown on ''the Gallery'' are mostly past commissions and therefore may not be for sale.
For further information or to commission work yourself please feel free to contact me to discuss options:

Email sue_elvidge@hotmail.com