About Me
A snapshot of my life
I am originally from Germany, which explains the unique spelling of my first name. In 1992, I made a permanent move to England, a country I grew fond of during my student years.
I initially wanted to study interior architecture or graphic design, but I was persuaded by my family that pursuing business studies would be more practical for earning a livelihood.
My career began in market research, after which I retrained as a counsellor, specializing in gambling addiction, until my retirement from paid work in 2021.
My husband John and I now reside in the South Downs National Park. Soon, I will have spent more time living in Petersfield than any other place. Despite my upbringing in a major city and spending 13 years in London, I have come to realize that my true affinity lies with the countryside.
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 still 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.
I have always been immersed in creativity. Writing was my earliest passion. As a young girl, I would feign sleep just to conjure up stories in my mind. By 16, I had completed a novel. It remained unpublished, yet it ignited the aspiration to one day publish a heroic tale.
Beyond writing, I had craft projects on the go and also loved photography, drawing, and painting.
However, as I embarked on my career, visual arts took a backseat, though my passion for writing persisted. However, publishing “How to Conquer a Mountain: Kilimanjaro Lessons” in my late 40s led to a temporary waning of my writing interest. My mountain-climbing experience wasn’t the triumphant saga I had hoped for, leaving me feeling defeated. Words alone were not enough to process my pain and disappointment. Instead, painting helped me to process memories and difficult feelings.
Over the years, I discovered that I am a storyteller at heart, even when I do not use words. Every piece of my artwork, even those that appear abstract, tells a tale. 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 regular 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 understanding into my practice is a continuous journey. It begins with heightened 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 – it 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.
Sources of inspiration
I am fascinated by the natural world. Celtic Christians referred to nature as “God’s big book” – 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. I prefer to create “soulscapes” rather than landscapes when I paint.
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 truly explore its content before dismissing its assertions.
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 am dedicated to continuous learning.
I am an exhibiting member of both the Petersfield Arts and Crafts Society and the Portsmouth & Hampshire Art Society. My artwork has been displayed at the AppArt exhibition in Godalming and is part of private collections across the UK, Germany, France, Spain, and the USA.
Exhibitions
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 course.
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, crafted 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)
Exhibition catalogues for 2024 exhibitions: Groundlings Theatre, Petersfield Festival Hall, Portsmouth Cathedral.
Digital copies are available for free download in my Ko-fi shop.
www.ko-fi.com/susanneirving/shop
Frequent Questions
How do I care for my artwork?
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 advisable to steer clear of 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.
Do you sell prints?
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.
Do you do commissions?
I typically don’t take on commissions because my process is intuitive and can’t be hurried. However, if you’re 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.