Wendy Bristow

Wendy was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her family emigrated to the UK in 1969, spending a short time in Cape Town in 1976, soon returning to England, where they chose to settle in Devon.

Wendy is often inspired by her background and early experiences growing up in South Africa and the challenges of moving around, disruptions to her school life and periods of feeling out of context both in South Africa and in the UK.

After completing school she attended a Foundation Course at Plymouth College of Art. Still uncertain of which direction to take and desiring to taste a little of life's reality before launching into creating artistic representations of the world around her, Wendy chose to train as a registered nurse. She nursed for over 20 years, starting with time spent as a volunteer nurse in rural Nqutu, Kwazulu, South Africa in1986, in Paediatric Oncology, Palliative Care, both in London and Birmingham, and was a Community Nursing Sister and Team Leader in Devon for many years. She was given an opportunity to return to her artistic pursuits by the NHS, unwittingly, when as part of a reconfiguration process in 2006, it became clear to her that she did not wish to be reconfigured within the philosophy of health care at that time.

After so many years away from the art world, except for undertaking wedding and portrait photography on days off, Wendy immersed herself in classes and workshops, in reflexology, life drawing, clay modelling, silversmithing and a little later, stone carving in an attempt to unearth and renew her artistic vision. It has been a fascinating journey to rediscover her creative brain and learn from scratch, stone masonry techniques, for one, initially from Anne Marie Moss but in the main from Maria Moorhouse, completing Stone Carving qualifications in ABC Levels 1 & 2; OCNW Level 1; Ascentis Level 2 in Architectural Detail and Ascentis Levels 1 & 2 in Sculpture, Wood, Stone and Clay.

Wendy has also undertaken adult education and private workshops with well respected and inspirational artists, sculptors and teachers, such as Lucianne Lassalle and Luke Shepherd.

In addition, Wendy has completed training as a tutor in 'emotional logic' - www.emotionallogiccentre.org.uk - and obtained a 1st in a Post Graduate Diploma with Buckinghamsire University in Integrative Medicine - integrativemedicine.uk.com and www.healthcreation.co.uk - that incorporates the positive value of elements such as creativity on our health, happiness and well-being.

All in all Wendy feels she has gone full circle learning the significance of integrating her love of the arts with a world too readily monopolised by science.