Ann Stevenson

My love of nature stems from my childhood on a farm on the slopes of Scrabo, overlooking Strangford Lough.  We roamed the fields gathering bunches of primroses and violets and catching tiny fish in a shallow river across the fields.

At Regent House School I studied Biology and Art as two of my Senior Certificate subjects, then chose Art as a special subject at Stranmillis Teacher Training College.

In my twenties, inspired by the late Lady Harriet Kidd, I became engrossed in Floral Art and taught this subject in Bangor and Holywood Technical Colleges. Then on seeing the wonderful delicate watercolour paintings of flowers by Elizabeth McEwen, my enthusiasm diverted to another art form - Botanical Painting and under her tuition I learned to observe the unbelievable intricacies of different varieties of flowers.

I enjoy painting detailed studies of flowers mostly in watercolour and more recently have been fascinated by the colours of plumage of roosters, using acrylic as a new medium.

I am a member of Kilmood Art Club, Ardess Art Society and St Columba's Painting Group where friendships are formed through an interest in Art.