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EXAMPLES
(shown by kind permission of the artists or their representatives)
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photo Peter Dash
. Aaltje (Aaltje Smith)
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"Reflections IV", 2003
oil on canvas
105x75cm
"Bottles I", 2002
oil on canvas
105x75cm
"Reflections I", 2001
oil on canvas
11x78cm(1&2=artist's collection, 3=private collection)
Aaltje was born in 1952 in Beaufort/South Wales to a Welsh father and a Dutch mother. As a youngster she helped in her parents shop and later got married to bring up her own family. In 1969 she decided that it was time to do more with her life and she took a Foundation Course in Art at Hereford College. Thereafter, she entered a BA degree course in Fine Art, i.e. 1998-2002, at the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff. She has her studio in Cardiff; signs her work as 'Aaltje'.
Artist's Statement: "When I was 17 years old I attended Hereford Art School for a Foundation Course in Fine Art. Not long thereafter, however, my father fell ill and I had to return home to Crickhowell to help my mother run the small hotel they kept. Some years later I married, had two children and continued with my professional job. In 1995 I had to give up my job due to ill health and I decided to return to my first interest, i.e. art. I first went to evening classes which, eventually, led to my taking up a foundation course at Newport Art College. The following year, 1998, I was accepted by University of Wales Institute Cardiff to study for a fine arts degree. It was not easy balancing family life and work with studying. Nor was it any easier that at 50 I was one of the few mature students. However, I succeeded with something I had started 33 years earlier and in due course (2001) I obtained a BA(hons)1/2 degree. At the degree show I did not only sell four paintings but was awarded two major prizes. I also won second prize at the graduates' show at St.David's Hall Cardiff.
In 2003 I have had two very successful exhibitions: at the 'Emerging Young Artist 2003" Show (EU03) in Birmingham, and a solo exhibition at the Broadway Gallery Cardiff."
Awards: 2002 2nd prize for graduates show, Evershed Purchase Prize, Bluebird Prize,
