After leaving Aberystwyth Art School in 1983 I worked for a year in an art gallery and then travelled to Italy to paint. Living in London for the following few years gave me the chance to visit galleries and to exhibit in various group exhibitions such as the Pastel Society and the The Royal Society of Oil Painters. I was also delighted to have my work selected for the Royal Academy.
I became increasingly interested in Pastel technique which, on moving to France, gave me the chance to approach the Societe de Pastellistes de France and to show with them for the first time in Paris in 2011. Since then the I’ve enjoyed the support and friendship of the community of pastel painters in France, showing with them in the all the major Salons: Givery, Feytiat, Fougeres and many others. The Societe de Pastellistes de France honoured me with the title of ‘Maitre Pastelliste’ in 2009.
Portrait painting has been a consistant passion for me in both pastel and oil paint. I’ve realised portrait commissions from early on in my career, In America,Italy, London, Spain and France.
In 2022 I moved from Catus to Cazals where I have set up my studio in the Rue de la République. This gives me an occasion to interact with the public when I open my studio on Sunday morning Market days.
I remain inspired by the village, it’s people and the beautiful landscape which surrounds me. When possible I work from life, although occasionally I find myself my imagination moving towards depictions of stories and myths.
I’m never quite sure in which direction my art will move next, but the process constantly interests me.
https://www.facebook.com/milner.penelope
Exhibitions and Private Galleries
- Art du Pastel. L’Abbaye du Valasse. juillet 2022
- Invitèe d’honneur. Festival International du Pastel. Feytiat. France. 2022
- Pastel Society exhibition The Mall, London. 2018.
- Salon du dessin et de la peinture a l’eau. 2018. Grande Palais. Paris.
- International Pastel Exhibition. Giverny. 2017.
- Patchings Festival 2017.
- Galerie, Pastel Girault.
- Festival International du Pastel, Feytiat, France.
- Galerie 333 Baba, bangkok,Thaïlande.
- Connaisseurs galerie Paris.
- Invitée d’honneur. Salon du Pastel en Bretagne Fougeres, France
- Galerie L’echarpe Toulouse, France.
- Salon annuel d’Arts à Saint Pierre Lès Nemours, France.
- Salon international de Pastel, Saint-Aulaye, France.
- Panorama du Pastel Contemporain; Galerie Saint Hubert, Lyon, France.
- Salon internationale du pastel à Tournus, France.
- Invitée d’honneur au salon du réalism, Soual Tarn, France.
- Affordable Art Fair, Linda Blackstone Gallery Bristol.
- The Mall Gallery, London.
- The Royal Academy, London.
- Galerie Soif d’Art, St Emillion, France.
- Gallery Inuit, Denmark..
- Galerie Auriel, Toulouse, France.
- Arts 94, Hyeres, France.
- The Bank Street Gallery, Sevenoaks.
- The City Gallery, Milton Keynes.
- Museum and Art Gallery Bedford.
- The Turner Gallery, Exeter.
- Bell Fine Art, Winchester.
- The Maltings, Farnham.
- The Fenney Lodge Gallery, Milton Keynes.
- The Derngate Northampton.
Awards.
- Annie Longley Award 2018. Annual Pastel Society Exhibition, London
- First prize. International Pastel Salon, Giverny 2017
- Prix du publique Pastel en Perigord . 2011.
- Debra Mannifold : linda Blackstone, Pastel Society Award 2003.
- Eastern Arts Council Award.1987.
- Windsor and Newton Young artist award. 1985.
Publications:
- Pastel Journal. June 2017.
- Plaisirs de peindre N° 60 2016.
- Pratique des Arts 2014.
- Pratique des Arts Hors série N°33 spécial pastel 2013.
- Pratique des arts N°104 / Juin-Juillet 2012.
- Artists magazine No 136 2012.
- Dessins et peinture N°21 Janvier 2010.
- L’Atelier Canson September 2010.
- Penelope has her work in private collections in the UK, Europe.and United States