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Based in the UK and Zakynthos/Greece
BA (Hons) Art & Design
PGCE Post Grad in Education
Born in the UK, Maria began her art studies in 1970 at the Bournville School of Art. She then went on to study Fashion/Costume and Textiles, but later resumed her studies of fine arts at the BIAD - University of Central England.
Throughout her long career as an artist, Maria has also worked with arts community based projects and taught a range of art subjects. Since graduating with Honours she has developed her working practices within a broader context such as paintings, textiles and Sculpture that have been exhibited nationally and internationally.
Maria draws her inspiration from many different sources: travel, literature, people, tradition and more personal issues. She documents her subject through photography and drawings. Her explorations have led to the development of paintings and sculptures.
The body of work entitled ‘Comfort of Heritage’ is inspired by her own cultural heritage, her travels through Africa, the diverse African culture and, more recently, a month-long residency that took place at the Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art, Nairobi, Kenya (2008).
Her use of colours are vibrant and exciting, her paintings aesthetically pleasing with interesting narratives.
Although Maria is now based in the UK and Greece, she has previously lived solely abroad - leaving the UK to live in West Africa on two occasions.
Her experiences of Africa are not just as a traveller but also as a resident - living with the people and their culture. Her own colourful, diverse family heritage (African father, Italian mother) inspires her work and working practices.
Maria is a freelance artist working from her studios in the UK. She is
also a lecturer at the Walsall College of Art – UK.
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