Heather Gail Harman BA Hons
Heather has the distinction of having studied pastels and its history at degree level - delving into the histories of the earliest exponents of the medium from all over Europe - often having their working diaries translated into English. Her unique slide collections are the result of this research.
As a result of her vast knowledge and her 30 odd years of practical experience using pastel, Heather is also called upon to act as advisor to many manufacturers of pastels, working on areas of product development.
Heather's first exhibition, dedicated exclusively to pastel, was in 1975. This exhibition depicted 36 portraits of many respected names from within the music industry - an area she was to work in for 10 years. Her work in the 1980's remained within the entertainment's industries. Heather worked for Billy Connelly as his tour artist and also completed work for Elton John for the Olympic Appeal Fund. In addition, she worked for Jasper Carrott, Mike Harding, the late Leslie Crowther and numerous others from Boy George to George Best!
Exhibitions of her ever-popular pastel landscape were shortly to follow.
Heather Gail Harman is a member of The Portrait Society of America
Heather's artistic talent was recognised in early childhood along with her fascination for portraiture. Her portrait of John F Kennedy - completed when she was 14 years old was hung in the National Archives Gallery in Washington. When she was 15 years old her portrait of poet Rupert Brooke was hung in the library of Kings College Cambridge University.
Some thirty years later, Heather is one of the UK's most respected artist/tutors. She developed her life-long fascination with the pastel medium (because of its fundamental affiliation with the art of drawing) in the 1960's. Although she has also worked in oils for 25 years and watercolours - pastels remain her speciality. Her time is now spent tutoring residential courses, workshops, taking painting groups abroad, demonstrating for pastel manufacturers, writing articles for the leisure painting press and of course, painting!
Heather has numerous one-woman exhibitions to her name and her work is held in numerous international collections. Her work has been represented in all the major open Royal Society exhibitions relating to portraiture and pastel and her client list ranges from royalty (both England and Saudi Arabian) to pop stars. Heather's paintings have been published in limited edition in conjunction with the Fine Arts Trade Guild.