The home page of the new look Crediton Heart Project website features a fabulous painting of St Lawrence Green by talented local artist Mike Palmer. Mike has lived in the town for more than 50 years and taught in local primary schools, becoming head teacher at Haywards. Here he describes how his varied artistic skills have developed from college days to retirement, including watercolours, set design and, more recently, digital painting.
I have always enjoyed sketching and painting, and was lucky enough to study Art for three years as one of my main subjects at college, though that was back in the early 60s! I then worked in primary schools as a classroom teacher and head teacher for 39 very enjoyable and rewarding years.
Although my home was in the Isles of Scilly, I began teaching in Croydon before moving to Crediton in 1974. I had the good fortune to teach in local schools namely Landscore, Bow and Haywards until my retirement in 2002. One of the joys of living locally is meeting former pupils, parents and staff. Sharing memories and learning about their current lives. I still have a connection with education via the QE Trustees.
My own artwork was a very occasional hobby during this time, but promoting curriculum art and design, plus in service training for staff, and working with children, was an important part of my time in school. I also worked with a lot very talented teachers, who kept the ideas coming.
For many years I have enjoyed theatre set design and painting with local amateur companies, in particular Crediton Operatic and Dramatic Society (CODS). Until 2024 I also did a lot of photography for the Society, graphic design work, and at present still run their website.
The set work gave me a regular opportunity to design and paint on a much larger scale, often using big rollers to spread colour and texture in an impressionistic style. It was also great to work co-operatively with a team of others putting together a production. Running the society’s website also linked well with my photographic aspirations!
After retirement I started to paint more frequently, mainly with pastels, mixed media and watercolours. I have particularly enjoyed painting subjects located in the Isles of Scilly and West Cornwall, and holidays abroad.
Other hobbies now, apart from golf, also include singing with the Crediton Good Afternoon Choir, and being a member of the Crediton Strummers, which is a very special group of folk who enjoy a good strum and singalong!
Digital painting
During the lockdowns when we were all looking for things to fill our days, I explored the world of Digital Painting on a 12 inch iPad, following up ideas on YouTube demonstrations and using a software programme called Procreate. Basically you work in layers, adding the drawing, the colours, the foreground, the background etc on the separate layers. It is very enjoyable and being digital, it’s easy to correct your mistakes.
As you are working all your ‘brushstrokes’ are recorded. When the picture is complete, it is possible to play back the work you have done in a short video. Even if you have spent several hours on the work it is automatically edited to about a one minute clip. Finished pictures can be printed on paper or on canvas.
Finally, I am indebted to Ray Balkwill and the late Lionel Aggett for their huge encouragement and inspiration. I also look at the works of J.M.Turner, Edward Seago and John Yardley and say to myself… dream on!
- website mikeppaintings.co.uk
