Karen O'Neill

I am a full-time artist, living and working in Shropshire, UK. Largely self-taught I work mainly in coloured pencil. However my art journey started 40 years ago with pen and ink drawings, focussing on detail to try capture the infinite beauty of my subjects.

I worked in this medium for many years during the quiet moments when my children were at school. And during this time sold my first drawing, a Pen and Ink study of a tiger and cub. I went on to sell more artwork in local shops and wine bars etc. I also experimented with other media - watercolour, acrylics, oils - most meeting with varying degrees of abysmal. That I felt intimidated by colour didn’t help. It would be too easy to ruin what might otherwise have been a reasonable piece of work. So I kept a wary distance from colour and played safe with black and white studies with perhaps, a soft watercolour wash.

However, about four years ago while surfing the internet I discovered a coloured pencil tutorial and knew that I had found my ideal medium at last. I was hooked, and so... here I am. I am still enthralled by detail and coloured pencils allow me to indulge in this passion and I now draw mainly animals, both wild and pets.

My work has been published in Ann Kulberg's Color Magazine and a drawing of a robin was published the April issue of The Artist and Leisure Painter.

Awards/Exhibitions
Currently exhibiting in Ironbridge Fine Arts gallery, Ironbridge, Shropshire and No.61 Mardol, Shrewsbury, Shropshire.