We welcome Clive Wiley as our demonstrator this month, painting landscapes in watercolour.
Clive was not able to attend art school – he is entirely self taught. A Managing Director of a London advertising agency spotted some of his work and gave him a chance in the business – beginning at the bottom washing out water pots etc for an art director.
Eventually he was given an advert to design and produce for Max Factor. He gained further experience in other advertising agencies, gradually working his way up the ranks to Art Director and Creative Group Head.
Some of the major accounts he worked on were KODAK, Oxfam, Max Factor, Churchill Tobaccos and MFI.
He later set up his own advertising business dealing with some interesting accounts including International Distillers with their range of Whiskeys, PJB Pharmaceutical Publishers and Home Shoppe direct mail products.
After some years he decided to go long-term cruising with his wife, selling his paintings along the way. This turned out to be very successful. He was so busy painting commissions that they were able to extend their travels for two and a half years!
When they returned to the UK Clive put his paintings into Debenhams in Carlisle where he again attracted interest for commissions.
From this he has moved on to weekly tuition classes on the Solway Coast attracting people from as far afield as Scotland and Southern Cumbria.
Clive now concentrates on giving watercolour demonstrations and workshops throughout the UK with the aim of helping people get more from their painting.
Clive is also leading a workshop the day after his demonstration (Thursday 13th February 2020).
Visitors are welcome at a charge of £5.