About Me
A snapshot of my life
I am originally from Germany, but I have lived longer in Petersfield than I have lived in my hometown or anywhere else.
My husband John and I love living in the South Downs National Park: Beautiful nature right on our doorstep and a supportive, friendly community – what is not to like?
I initially wanted to study interior architecture or graphic design, but I was persuaded by my family that a degree in European business studies would be more likely to earn me a living. My degree course first brought me to England in the mid-80s – little did I know that England would become my permanent home.
To be honest, when I was offered a market research job in London in 1992, I mainly saw this as a way out of a toxic relationship with a gambling addict.
I neither planned to become a Christian nor to retrain as a counsellor, specializing in gambling addiction… I worked in the field for 16 years, using my creativity to design online counselling services.
When I gave up my paid employment in 2021, I used the opportunity to explore my childhood interests in greater depth.
Creative journey
I cannot remember a time when I was not creative. My first love was writing. Even as a little girl, I would lie in bed, pretending to be asleep, so that I could spend more time making up stories. I finished a novel at 16. Although it was not published, it sparked the dream of one day publishing a heroic novel.
Beyond writing, I always had craft projects on the go and also loved photography, drawing, and painting.
During my career as a market researcher and later counsellor, the visual arts took a backseat, though my passion for writing persisted.
However, when my husband and I published “How to Conquer a Mountain: Kilimanjaro Lessons”, I temporarily lost interest in writing.
My mountain-climbing adventure was not the triumphant saga I had hoped for, which left me feeling empty and deflated. (I did not even want to publish the story under my name, so the English edition is published under Sue Irving.)
I discovered that words were not enough to process my pain and disappointment, so I turned my attention to the visual arts.
During my part-time Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at West Dean College, I discovered how to use the artistic process to work through memories and difficult feelings.
Looking at all I have done to date, I have come to the conclusion that I am a storyteller at heart, even when I do not use words. I now enjoy combining my varied creative pursuits to express my insights on life, spirituality, and creativity.
Creating environment-conscious art
I was interested in environmental issues long before climate change became headline news.
I believe that we are called to be good stewards of all the earth’s resources, whether natural or made by us.
Translating this conviction into my practice is a continuous journey. It begins with an awareness of the environmental impact of my work materials and processes, coupled with a readiness to experiment and explore alternative methods.
I love the Japanese concept of Kintsugi, which teaches that broken pottery should not be discarded. Instead, the vessel’s history is honoured by repairing the fractures with a lacquer infused with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.
I also want to honour materials that are often neglected and/or bound for landfill.
Incorporating glass shards along with various organic and inorganic materials into paint results in a highly textured three-dimensional canvas. The appearance of the canvas alters with the room’s lighting conditions.
Over the years, I have replaced traditional acrylics, which contain plastic, with plastic-free alternatives like eco household paints. I am also increasingly experimenting with foraging for my own pigments and making my own paints.
Sources of inspiration
I am fascinated by the natural world. Celtic Christians referred to nature as “God’s big book”, which makes a lot of sense to me. I have discovered that inspiration can be found right on my doorstep if I approach my surroundings in a prayerful and mindful manner.
I see mystery, revelation and evidence of design when I observe the colours, shapes, textures, and seasonal cycles found in nature. While my work often contains elements of realism, it is seldom a direct imitation of nature; instead, it is drawn from memory and my imagination. The final work is often an amalgam of various places and times. When I am painting, I prefer to create “soulscapes” rather than landscapes.
Although nature is a recurring theme in my work, it is not my sole inspiration.
The written word has always been important to me. I have been journaling on and off since childhood. I am also inspired by other people’s poetry, prose, and lyrics. The Bible has provided a rich storehouse of images, insights, and stories ever since I was encouraged decades ago to explore its content before dismissing its claims.
Work can be born out of prayer or transform into a prayer and meditation, conveying what is beyond words.
Often my starting point is play– I delight in discovering what unfolds when I am juxtaposing various materials, taking time rearranging, adding, subtracting and layering paint and materials.
BIOGRAPHY
I began my career in England as a market researcher before retraining as a counsellor. Leveraging my creative skills and interests, I designed and developed an online counselling service for a gambling addiction charity, incorporating Zoom into the practice years before its widespread adoption during the pandemic.
In 2021, I shifted my focus from counselling to creative pursuits—painting, writing, and photography. I am exploring how creative expression can facilitate (re-)connection with our inner selves, the world around us, spiritual experiences, and one another.
Through my counselling work, personal experiences, and facilitating writers’ and creativity groups, I have discovered the healing power of creativity in processing memories and emotions.
My art often includes autobiographical elements but invites diverse interpretations.
I select the medium—whether it is painting, photography, prose, poetry, or a combination— that best expresses my stories, ideas and insights.
A commitment to using eco-friendly materials and methods is a significant feature of my work, mirroring my long-term concern for environmental issues.
I hold a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design from West Dean College, and I am dedicated to continuous learning.
I am an exhibiting member of the Petersfield Arts and Crafts Society and have in the past exhibited with the Portsmouth & Hampshire Art Society. My artwork has been displayed at the AppArt exhibition in Godalming.
I have had solo exhibitions in the Groundlings Theatre in Portsmouth and the Liss Triangle Community Centre in Liss.
My work is part of private collections across the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and the USA.
Exhibitions
Upcoming exhibition:
St Columba’s House Christian Retreat & Conference Centre, Maybury Hill, Woking, GU22 8AB; start date mid-February (exact date to be confirmed)
Current exhibition:
Solo exhibition at Liss Triangle Centre, Mill Road, Liss GU33 7DX from 2nd to 29th January 2026
Past exhibitions:
2025: AppArt Exhibition Godalming; Petersfield Arts & Crafts Exhibition Petersfield Festivak Hall; The Mill at Elstead; Solo exhibition The Groundlings Theatre
2024: AppArt Exhibition Godalming; Petersfield Festival Hall; Portsmouth Cathedral; The Groundlings Theatre Portsmouth (solo exhibition); BobCat Gallery (online)
2023: AppArt Exhibition Godalming; Petersfield Festival Hall; Portsmouth Cathedral; Gallery 30 Petersfield
2022: AppArt Exhibition Godalming; Petersfield Festival Hall; Portsmouth Cathedral; Holy Art Gallery (online), Spirit of Music Festival Liss
2021: Petersfield Physics Garden; Portsmouth Cathedral; Chelmsford Cathedral Project; L’Abri Greatham; Liss Community Centre
2018 West Dean College; Petersfield Festival Hall
2017 Oxmarket Print Exhibition, Chichester
2016 Petersfield Arts and Crafts Society Unframed sales
Training
I love learning by experimenting, but I also regularly attend short-term courses and workshops to learn new skills and different ways of working.
I have also participated in longer term training to build a foundation for my practice:
Foundation in Art and Design (FDAD), West Dean College, Chichester, 2016-2018
Creative Visionary Program (CVP) 2020 (Nicholas Wilton)
“Created to Thrive” Artist Mentoring Program 2021 (Matt Tommey)
Evolve Realistic Oil Painting Training 2023/24
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If you want to find out more about any of these courses, please click on the links:
Foundation Diploma in Art & Design | West Dean
Learn more about CVP | Art2Life – Nicholas Wilton
Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program | Matt Tommey
Please feel free to email me if you have a question about the programmes, but bear in mind that courses get updated regularly, so what is on offer now may be different from what was on offer when I attended the courses.
Publications
“How to conquer a mountain: Kilimanjaro Lessons”, Sue and John Irving (published in 2014)
“Sometimes the mountains we have to climb are different from the mountain we expected to climb. This is just one of many life lessons John and Sue learned when they were climbing Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route.
The travel memoir is told from both the point of view of the sporty, adventurous husband and his cautious, but determined wife. Accompany them on a physical, emotional and spiritual journey to the Roof of Africa. This is a book for all those who have already attempted to climb Kili, are still preparing for the climb or are facing a mountain not of their choosing.
All proceeds from this book will go to the charity “In Ministry to Children” UK registered charity no. 1064690.”
Also available in German: “Wie man einen Berg bezwingt.”
Available on Amazon – profits continue to go to charity
“Treasures in the darkness” Susanne Irving (published in 2020)
A curated collection of my poems and reflections, accompanied by photos and paintings, aiming to celebrate life amidst all its challenges.
“Adventures in oil – An intuitive painter’s journey into realism: Art and life lessons.” Susanne Irving (published in 2024)
I learned how to paint realistically in oils, but more importantly, what I am interested in when I am painting and how I work best. The course turned out to be a valuable D-tour in my creative journey.
There may also be digital catalogues of exhibitions in my Ko-fi shop. Simply go to my Ko-fi shop and check what is available.
www.ko-fi.com/susanneirving/shop
Frequent Questions
Original pieces and hand-finished prints often benefit from some lighting to highlight their textures, but it is crucial to keep all prints and artwork away from direct sunlight. It is also always advisable to avoid extreme fluctuations in temperatures.
Please refrain from touching artworks that include glass or delicate natural materials. You can gently clean a canvas with a feather duster.
Artwork that is experimental in nature will have been kept in the studio for several months, sometimes more than a year, to allow the work time to settle and to determine if there are any issues. Nonetheless, the artwork may still undergo changes over time. This is not considered a defect; rather, it is one of the distinctive characteristics of the work. My goal is to create art that is “alive” and dynamic.
Upon request, I can provide a digital image of the artwork as it appeared when it left my studio, enabling you to document its evolution over time.
Giclée prints can be ordered for most completed artworks. Detailed close-ups and process photographs may also be available.
Giclée prints are high-quality inkjet prints that utilize fade-resistant, archival, and pigment-based inks. They are expected to last at least 50 years without discolouration; this lifespan can extend to 80 years when the print is displayed behind glass. It is important to be aware that prints may not precisely replicate every nuance of colour and texture.
I use UK company The Print Space because they provide a carbon-neutral printing service, avoid the use of plastic, and utilize recycled and recyclable materials. Additionally, they operate printing facilities in Germany and the USA, which decreases both the cost and travel distance for orders within the EU and US.
My preferred printing paper is vegan Hahnemühle paper. My favourite is Hahnemühle Bamboo, which is the world’s first digital fine art inkjet paper made from 90% bamboo fibres.
My designs could be featured on a variety of products such as mugs, cushion covers, or other items – I like to provide items that are both aesthetically pleasing and practical. Please send your requests or suggestions to Susanne_Irving@outlook.com.
I typically do not take on commissions because my process is intuitive and cannot be hurried. However, I am always willing to try something different. If you are flexible with the timeline and can provide a preferred colour scheme, along with the desired size and shape of the artwork, I would be open to considering a commission.