About Lorette
Lorette cannot remember a time when she didn’t paint, make
cards or ‘write’ books – but she did follow a different career path in early
adult life.
She did attend a five day watercolour workshop run by The
Chelsea Physic Garden, which has held a range of amazing plants since its
beginning in 1673. Apart from that course, Lorette has had no formal training -
just a lot of practice!
Travelling and living abroad for many years, Lorette
developed her skills of sketching and researching local customs and
curiosities. She also edited and illustrated a monthly ‘site magazine’ whilst
living in Construction Villages in South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
Such was the amount of her travelling, sketching and
painting that quite naturally Lorette was inspired and indeed encouraged to
exhibit her work wherever she went. For examples of her involvement in exhibitions (CLICK HERE)
Whilst in Hong Kong as she
continued to sketch and paint, it suddenly occurred to her that all those
sketches and paintings might, if put together, make a fine sketchbook. They
did! - and so “Sights & Secrets” Sketches and Paintings of Hong Kong
arrived. This was followed in short order by several more sketchbooks of the
Far East. (CLICK HERE) and many related items (CLICK HERE).
Sketchbooks inevitably led to
Commissions from private individuals, charities and hotels. In particular,
Lorette provided the sketches and drawings for the Peninsula Hotel in their
book entitled “Our Hong Kong”. For a selection of Lorette’s commissions (CLICK HERE).
Lorette has for many years run
workshops: first in UK, then in Hong Kong but now back in UK in her Suffolk
Studio. Her ethos at workshops is to encourage and facilitate anyone who is
keen to start, continue or improve their sketching and painting skills. Her
workshops comprise small groups (up to 6)
where each person works independently - so that Lorette can give individual
attention to everyone in turn and yet there is time to try out new techniques and suggestions.