Artists

ARTIST's INFORMATION

JULIE HOCKIN (SOFA)

For over 20 years Julie Hockin's artwork has been the back bone of the Hockin & Roberts range.  Pencil drawing has always been her first love followed closely by miniature painting.  As a member of the Hilliard of Miniaturists and the Royal Miniature Society, she developed a style of painting which she then carried forward to produce larger watercolour wildlife and floral works.  Starting with bookmarks, and greetings cards, Hockin & Roberts has expanded over the years and now contains a wide range of gift stationery and other items, selling throughout the UK and in many other parts of the world.  Julie is now retired, but her work continues to be an important part of our range.

CAROLINE ATKINSON

For as long as she can remember, Caroline has always painted.  After leaving school she studied at Exeter College of Fine Art & Bristol Polytechnic, before funding her travels by combining catering work with painting.  During this time she travelled extensively, and consequently, her work has been exhibited and collected in the USA, Canada, France, Japan and Australia.  But the lure of Cornwall proved too strong, and she returned to set up her successful gallery/studio on the harbour front in the artist's mecca of St Ives.  Simple and relaxing her seascapes are alive with colour, freshness and atmosphere.

NICOLA BAILEY

In collaboration with Antonia Barber, Nicola has produced a wonderful series of paintings to illustrate the story of "The Mousehole Cat ".  Inspired by the old Cornish legend of Tom Bawcock, this has become a children's favourite.  Her artwork has translated briliantly onto our range of gift stationery and greetings cards.

HEATHER O CATCHPOLE (RMS, HSF, MASSA)

Born in Canada.  Heather grew up in Durban, South Africa, where she studied Art.  Heather now lives in Somerset with her husband and theur Cocker Spaniels.  Heather is particularly well known for her dog portraits and her work can be found in private collections worldwide, and has appeared in several books, magazines and journals.  She is a member of the Royal Miniature Society, a founder member of the  Hilliard Society of Miniatures and a member of the Miniature Art Society of South Africa.  She has also shown at the Royal Academy, the Miniature Art Sociaty of Florida and the Ulster Society of Miniaturists.

JANE B GIBSON (RMS, HS)

Born of Scotish parents in Tasmania, Jane Barr Gibson moved to the Scotish harbout town of Kirkcudbright when she was 8 years old.  After teacher training in Art & Georgraphy, she then decided to become a full time artist.  Following a foundation course at Cumbria College of Art & Design, and a degree course at Norwich School of Art, she studied fashion and textile design before settling to work as an illustrator and designer specialising in wildlife subjects.  Twenty years later her work has developed to include the detailed art of miniature painting as well as larger oils, pastels, and watercolours.  She is a full member of both the Royal Miniature Society and the Hilliard Society of Miniaturists.

COMMANDER GEOFF HUNT (RMS, HS)

Even before he retired from the Fleet Air Arm, the late Commander Geoff Hunt had made a unique position for himself as a highly skilled miniature painter of maritime and aviation subjects.  In particular, meticulously researched scenes of marine warfare from the Napoleonic period.

PETER KING

Born in Lancaster, Peter has travelled extensively around the world and has painted in many countries.  Whilst in South Africa in the 1970's he studied under Sydney Goldblatt in Johannesburg.  He works in oils and watercolour and has a love of a wide range of subjects.  He paints everything from flowers to steam engines, but enjoys being out in the open air and finds inspiration in the Cornish countryside, where he lives.

JANET & PATSY SWANBOROUGH (SOFA)

Born in Maidstone Kent, the two sisters, Janet & Patsy, fell in love with the natural beauty, bright colours and tranquility of the Isles of Scilly.  Both professional artists, they moved to St Mary's in 1978, where they now have their own studio where visitors are welcome.  They are best known for their "bird's eye" paintings and large murals painted together.  Their series of "Cats in Windows" designs form the basis of the Hockin & Roberts Rosehill Collection.  They have the distinction of being the only living twins to have exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in the same year. 

SUE WARNER

Trained in graphic art at Walsall College of Art in the 1970's, Sue Warner started work in the ceramics industry painting fine display pieces of china an pottery, before going freelance where she found a keen following for her highly detailed wildlife and landscape paintings.  She has a genuine love of the natural world around her.  Working in oil and gouache, she uses her extensive collection of photographs, sketches and objects found on her country walks for reference, creating a distinctive and finely detailed style.  She is one of those lucky individuals who enjoy their work and this joy comes vividly to life in her wonderful heartfelt paintings of Britain's countryside and its wildlife.

JOHN WATSON

After teaching for some years in Newquay, John Watson set up a gallery in Mevagissey, and became a full time professional painter.  He specialises in painting traditional boats in scenes from the estuarys and coasts of Cornwall, and has developed a unique style that mainly depicts the calm tranquility of his local seascape.  Though no longer living in Mevagissey, he still loves the sight and sound of the waves.