Cherry Pickles

Cherry Pickles {born 1950) is an artist and lecturer from Bridgend in South Wales.^[1][2] Her works have been exhibited widely in the United Kingdom as well as in Greece and the United States. She has also lectured at a number of art schools.

Biography

Pickles first obtained a degree in Mathematics from Ulster University before going on to study for a Postgraduate Diploma at Slade School of Fine Art, and a BA in Painting at Chelsea School of Art.^[3][4]

Pickles has had a career as an independent artist, exhibiting widely and securing a number of grants in order to travel, exhibit and publish her work. She won a Boise Travelling Scholarship to Italy in 1980 and Greek Government Scholarships in 1992, 1994 and 1995.^[5] As well as numerous group exhibitions Pickles has had several solo shows, including two in 1994, one at St David's Hall in Cardiff and the other at the Smith Jariwala Gallery.^[5] In 2017 she was shortlisted for the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize.^[6] She mainly paints but also makes images with collage, drawing and camera. Some of her works, such as her self-portrait as Dylan Thomas, are portraits although she has also painted many landscapes.^[2]

Pickles has also had a long career as a lecturer and academic, teaching at a number of art schools including Falmouth School of Art, the University of St Andrews, Cardiff Art School and the Royal Drawing School in London.^[7][5]

In 2002 Pickles was the victim of theft, when her car along with 20 of her paintings were stolen in Cardiff. She was taking the paintings to Athens for an exhibition.^[8]

In the 2019 UK General Election Pickles hosted the constituency office, in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's London constituency, for the candidacy of William Tobin- aimed at highlighting the several million people excluded from the British electoral franchise.^[9] Pickles' paintings were used as campaign backdrops, notably Self-portrait as an Old Etonian for the campaign video.^[10]