Donna
Crawshaw was born
in Woking, Surrey,
England in 1960
- the second daughter
to the established
artist, author and
broadcaster Alwyn
Crawshaw.
The foundation
of learning for
her art came from
her father who encouraged
her from a very
early age and later
at school where
she excelled in
art related subjects
and then later at
West Surrey College
of Art & Design.
Although intending
to pursue a full
degree Donna decided
to leave after her
foundation year
to concentrate on
her paintings which
were already in
great demand.
So, at
the age of only
seventeen, Donna
became a professional
artist and her paintings
were soon snapped
up by agents and
galleries alike.
Her talent and potential
was recognised by
many and soon her
distinctive paintings
of animals and rural
scenes became well
known.
Nowadays
the artist's work
is sold through
major galleries
and to private and
corporate clients
world-wide. Her
choice of media
includes acrylics,
watercolours and
pastels but is also
available in limited
edition prints,
greetings cards
and collectors editions
of Royal Worcester
porcelain.
These
pictures often tell
a story, indicating
her attention to
detail as well as
her love for her
subject and keen
interest in the
countryside and
its inhabitants. |
Donna
Crawshaw displays
a remarkable versatility
as a fine artist
but she is perhaps
best known for her
animal studies in
rural settings.'Only
an artist with such
a love of the countryside
and a dedication
to its survival
could depict it
so accurately' stated
one major London
gallery. Whether
it be a Shetland
pony or a Shire,
a terrier or a black
labrador or even
trout lazing under
river weed Donna
studies her subject
carefully and has
gained an enviable
reputation as a
leader in the field
of animal paintings
and has won a number
of prizes and awards
for her work.
The artist
now lives and works
in a beautifully
situated farmhouse
on the western edge
of the Brecon Beacons
in Wales looking
onto the Carmarthen
Fans of the Black
Mountain. This choice
of location was
no accident as it
gives Donna easy
access to her chosen
subjects. She is
often found down
country lanes sketching
old farm buildings,
sheep, cattle and
even wildlife, returning
home to her studio
to complete the
paintings.
Her home
is shared with husband
and two daughters
and a vast menagerie
of animals, all
of whom take their
place in her paintings
at some point. Chickens,
ducks, geese, ponies,
dogs, cats, pigs
and rabbits all
join the queue for
feeding and posing
when Donna is walking
her fields. |