Ann McLaren Hodgson

I was born in East Yorkshire and educated at Chethams School of Music, Manchester, where I studied the violin. I started painting twenty years ago with no formal training, by beginning painting flowers, still life and local landscapes in watercolour. In 1991 I moved to Nottinghamshire and became interested in the work of Klimt and Kandinsky which proved a turning point. I recognised a need to paint from "within" rather than continue painting in a more traditional style. I began experimenting with colour and form and was soon to discover that by painting to music, particularly that of Mahler, Richard Strauss and Shostakovich, my work took on a more vibrant appearance as I transposed impressions into shapes and colours which gave my work a sense of rhythm and movement. My use of gold ink (often liberal) illuminates some of the more sombre and flatter colours and infuses my work with an exotic intensity and varying textures. Each piece is "a piece" of music either with part score in the background or my interpretation of how I "see and feel" the music.

I have exhibited in both East and North Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire and have carried out many commissions. Commissions are generally based upon a clients favourite piece of music. These capture a certain moment in time - music that was played at a wedding ceremony or other celebration or simply a piece of music that evokes happiness. I have used an eclectic mix of music ranging from Aerosmith to Mozart, The Righteous Brothers to Shostakovich and a variety of other composers in between. My work is mainly in private collections across the UK and abroad.

In July 2007 I launched "Geometrics 1" my first large scale solo exhibition to showcase my most recent work in watercolour and ink at Newark, Nottinghamshire. 45 works were exhibited. My exhibition was extended from 3 weeks to 5 and during that time 37 were sold and 14 commissions accepted. 

'Geometrics 2' Exhibition 2008 was another major success resulting in 28 sales and 15 commissions. I would like to express my greatful thanks and very best wishes to all my clients and to all the wonderful people I met during my exhibition. Geometrics 2 Exhibition 2008 June 28th - 16th August The Buttermarket Middlegate Newark Nottinghamshire NG24 1BF Exhibition 2009

'Geometrics 2 Take Two' January 2009 13th January - 1st March Mezzanine Gallery 48 Millgate Newark Nottinghamshire NG24 4TS

'Geometrics 3' PLEASE NOTE has been moved from April 2009 to August 11th 2009 - August 23 2009 Sam Scorer Gallery 5 Drury Lane Lincoln LN1 3BN