Valerie Christmas

Valerie was born in Surrey. She studied drawing and book illustration for four years at the Wimbledon School of Art and gained entrance to the Royal College of Art, London from which she graduated with an Honours Degree in painting.

After moving with her family to Dorset, Valerie began studying etching at the Bournemouth and Poole School of Art and Design while also working as an art teacher.

Her work was exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and because of the success she took up etching full time.

Nature is a constant inspiration – the changing seasons and colours, the variety of shapes and forms of flowers and foliage, birds, animals, insects etc. The Dorset landscape and seashore provide endless subject matter. Valerie enjoys the disciplined process of etching - the aquatint process allows a tonal quality very much like washes of watercolour.