Anne-Marie Bickerton

Anne-Marie Bickerton tells us about herself with a simple Q&A

Q1. Who is Anne-Marie Bickerton

Good question, I have been working as a professional photographer in the
media for the past 30 years. I always painted and played around with printing
techniques at a time when darkroom printing was the norm. Getting messy
was a must. The darkroom held an exciting possibility of happy experiments
and successful mistakes. Running along side this was my passion for oil paints
that I muddled through blissful in my ignorance of technique.


Q2. Where do you get your inspiration?

Having worked for magazines for many years my commissions took me to every walk of life and across the globe. Stories I covered ranged from glossy celebrity life in Los Angeles to shocking real life tales that still haunt me today.

People inspire me and I feed of others energy and stories. I spend a lot of time listening and watching and images just appear. It's always an organic journey of discovery. Never having a set plan because I know it will evolve and change in front of me and that is the buzz.

I think being open to opportunities wherever they present themselves is important and that leads onto the collaboration of the BickertonGrace Gallery and the meeting with Robert James Grace on a Photo/video shoot for his Crystal Bathe collection.


Q3. Did you have any training?

I did a BTEC National Diploma in Design and Photography straight from school and then worked assisting various photographers and working in a special Studio in SW London for many years where I met some incredible people that forged my creative path.

Q4. How would you describe your art?

I saw a description recently that made me smile which was an artographer, I like that. Over the past 30 years my collective skills have grown to include video and with the addition of the digital age I have also embraced and included this to my repertoire. Mixed media suits my ideas being able to create an image and mould it with painting then morph a little more on the computer and repeat until it feels right.


Q5. What Artists inspire you?

Over the years so many. I love The Renaissance period and travelling to Italy in my teens was incredibly inspirational seeing the great works of Michelangelo and Leonard da Vinci whilst hopping on and off trains.

The Pre-Raphaelite period was a wonder to me 'The Lady of Shalott' John William Waterhouse.

'Ophelia' John Everett Millais, these paintings had such an effect on me.

Of course the great artists that shape our vision Dali, Gustav Klimt, Gaudi.

Photographers honestly I was inspired by those around me. The images of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Female photographers forging the way such as Dorothea Lange, Dianne Arbus and more recently Annie Leibovitz.

I love the clever creative buzz of Banksy absolute genius.


Q6. What does Sentiment mean to you?

Well this is something I'm very passionate about. Through the creation of the gallery it is so important to create a connection through Art. When we as artists put ourselves into our creations the energy and time and passion is evident. Passing this on to those who can truly become a part of it and join in the journey whilst also sharing this with others is a test of the wonder of Sentiment.