Inspired by the land of water and wide skies of the Fens and East Anglia

Work by artist Elizabeth Fitzgerald Carter (Image: Archant)

An incomer to the area in 1986 Elizabeth Fitzgerald, inspired by the teaching of Andy English’s watercolour painting class, joined the Ely Watercolour Workshop formed by the Little Downham printmakers’ former students.

After successfully exhibiting with them and with The Ely Arts Society for a number of years Ms Fitzgerald’s life moved on and she moved to Downham Market little thinking that in the future what was a strictly amateur interest would become a professional one.

After making a new life for herself and with the support of new husband Kevin Carter, Elizabeth completed a degree in fine art with Anglia Ruskin University and embarked on a full-time life as an artist painting in watercolour and acrylics.

“Never, say never” says the 52-year-old: “I should have been brave enough to do this years ago. I haven’t stopped painting since day one and now cannot keep up with demand. I still can’t believe that I can earn a living out of something so enjoyable.”

She returned to Ely to take part in the Ely Cathedral Christmas food and gift exhibiting at the same event as her former teacher and will be back there again in 2015.

“I have never forgotten that it was the landscape of the fens around Ely and Andy’s teaching which gave me the confidence to exhibit in the first place and those influences are still evident in my work”

Her next exhibition is: Water, Reeds and Wild Places - an exhibition of marine and river paintings at Brancaster Village Hall from 1pm July 31 to 6pm August 2 2015

www.elizabethfitzgeraldcarter.com