Born in England, Merryn grew up in a family of creative artists. Merryn attended The Oxford School of Art from 1978-1981 before immigrating to Canada. She continued her passion, taking numerous courses at Sheridan College from 2000-2002. In 2014, she attended Traditional Oils at The Norfolk Painting School, UK, and a Micro Mosaic Course in Venice. Merryn continues to learn through courses and experimentation.
In 2018, Merryn moved to Collingwood, joined the BMFA and began a new chapter of her art career, embracing the Georgian Bay region and expressing her delight in her new work, including Plein Air painting.
I let my eyes and my instincts do the thinking – this way the images emerge and evolve spontaneously with a life of their own.
I paint in bursts of energy, allowing my emotions to infuse my art. Escaping into the process is part of what I do. An important aspect of my work is knowing when to stop and step back from a painting.
There is a tension between the dynamic physical process of creation and the moment of completion, and part of my art is capturing that tension without prolonging it.
Eclecticism, in life as well as in art, is highly appealing to me, so I experiment constantly with different techniques and ideas. Colour is vital – I’m not afraid of colour. When I paint, I let my hands choose the colours, and it’s almost a subconscious process.
I let the moment decide. - Merryn
Artist Statement
Thrive Together.
My thoughts when painting this series of Ontario native flowers.
Plants or people, we live alongside each other. We thrive together, growing stronger being surrounded and supported by one another. - Merryn
Visit The Gallery to see more of Merryn's work!