Twenty years of artistic inspiration by the sea

Whitby Anchor by Emma Ryan

Bridget Wilkinson has been creative throughout her whole life – but she didn’t think art would become her living.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Bridget stepping away from a stressful job in the NHS to follow her creative path, which is driven by bold colour, nature and marine life.

Bridget is inspired by driftwood, clay and sea treasures sourced from the beach. Picture: Ceri Oakes

Each day she is inspired by her surroundings, nature and the beach.

A clay model of a quaint cottage which forms part of her 3D artwork. Picture: Ceri Oakes

Ms Wilkinson said: “I had been creative all my life so it feels a bit funny saying it is now my full time living. In a stressful job my outlet was painting. I thought ‘this is something I can do and enjoy it’, I will do it.

“My daughter can remember me sitting on the sofa saying ‘I am going to be an artist’. I worked in Doodlepots studio and it went from there.”

Ms Wilkinson creates art-work, mixed media, prints, cards and gifts from her home studio on the West Cliff.

Her work is stocked in galleries in Alnwick, Whitby, Filey and Brighton and this year she will be exhibiting at the Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage.

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