SOPHIE WALBEOFFE

Sophie has had 25 solo exhibitions and numerous group shows. To date, her works have graced the walls of such notable venues as the Imperial War Museum, the Serpentine Gallery, the Hatton Gallery and the Chelsea Arts Club.

Her list of clients and patrons is long and impressive. Such is Sophie's standing in the art world, that one of her African inks was presented to Prince Harry by a member of his family on the occasion of his 21st birthday.

It could be said that the artistic gene is prevalent in Sophie's family. Her great great uncle established the Couthald institute in London one of the UK's most valuable national treasures; and of her two aunts one went to the Slade and the other went to the Ruskin.

Sophie studied painting at the Wimbledon School of Art in London. She also studied at The Central School of Art where, under the guidance of Cecil Collins, a metaphysical painter of some repute.

She honed her skills according to the disciplines and traditions of drawing from life. For Sophie, painting is an exercise in bodily and spiritual awareness, one which to this day continues to be heightened under the vastness of the African skies and the stark voids of the Arabian desert.

Sophie lived in Dubai for two years during the late 1980's. She was attracted to the region by tales of the dramatic desert landscape and in particular of the Bedouin whose lives were so little affected by the machinations of the 20th Century.

On arrival, she also discovered a burgeoning city-life. She became caught up in the excitement of the souks, where trade in exotic goods and spices still continued, alongside the more prosaic car tyres and fridges.

"There was a buzz and an energy which inspired me, both personally and creatively. It fuelled a fascination in the region which has remained unabated to this day."

From Dubai, Sophie headed to Kenya as the official artist for Operation Raleigh. There she met her husband, Piers, and as they say, Sophie's life has never been the same since - they now share their home with their two children and 50 camels!

The images which Sophie creates are raw, fresh and vital. She attributes this in part to her technique of painting whith both hands at the same time and to the fact that she approaches each painting without any premeditated ideas.

Hence, fluency is an important a characteristic of her work (and her personality), something which attracted the International Red Cross when they recently appointed her as their official artist for the Horn of Africa.