Having trained for three years in traditional portraiture in Florence, Italy at Charles H. Cecil Studios, Harriet returned to the U.K. to begin her career as a commissioned portrait artist in her London Studio. With her work finding homes in private collections through the U.K. and Europe, her pieces has also been exhibited in numerous well-recognised competitions; such as the Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize, as well as being included in The Royal Society of Portrait Painters’ “Top Portrait Painters 2017”.

In the years after her professional practice, Harriet’s work has evolved away from her traditional training, allowing her own unique artistic flare to emerge. Embracing abstraction with the figurative, each painting is deeply personal for Harriet; reflecting her inner truths and memories back from the canvas. This is seen with her current work, focusing on the 'Self' and how our psyche is a jigsaw-like patchwork creation, always evolving.

Through Obby, Harriet is offering oil painting workshops, where you have the chance to learn over either a day or full weekend how to paint a selection of seasonal flowers; giving you a beautiful painting you can leave with, as well as having gained valuable painting advice!

Read on to find out more about Harriet, her workshops, and how Obby is helping her teaching businesss grow.

(Author's Note: Harriet's answers have been edited for length and clarity)

Book with Harriet on Obby

When was the first time you started working with oil paints, and what drew you to it?

About 12 years ago I was first introduced to oil paint. Flippantly, my teacher at the time said “dive into the paint and drown”, but for me it was love at first brushstroke. The feeling of painting with oil is extraordinary and the variety of application and therefore results is also fascinating.

What made you realise that teaching might be for you? And was it difficult for you to make that leap from creating for yourself to teaching others?

I think it’s been a gradual dawning. For a long time, I really wanted to focus on my own practice and develop as much as possible. Over the past year or so, my own work has evolved from pure realism towards combining figurative with abstraction. It’s a process that has made me so much more aware of painting, and so now I really feel I have something to offer in the way I teach. I want to impart technical advice without crushing individuality.

What encouraged you to join Obby as a teacher? And how are we helping you grow?

I had seen Obby on Instagram and thought it looked great. It’s even better than I thought! They are helping me with marketing and it’s amazing to have an easy booking system, and all the information about students in one place.

How do you maintain your inspiration for painting, and how do you pass that inspiration onto your students?

I find inspiration in the smallest things. At the moment I’m trying to use my memories for inspiration. When it comes to this course though, there is nothing more inspiring for me than flowers. The power in their quiet beauty is extraordinary. They way change constantly; blooming from bud and moving with the light. It’s a wonderful challenge to try to capture that in paint how way the light catches each petal.

Do you feel painting helps people with their wellbeing and mental health? And if so, why?

I think one of the hardest things to do in life is to stay present. If you are painting well, then you have to be totally present and connected with what you're doing; both physically and mentally. In this way, I think painting can create a natural pause and break for your mind. You cannot be worrying about the future or the past in that moment, as there is too much to concentrate on in painting.

What is your favourite thing about teaching that you feel you benefit from?

It is always about seeing the progress in the student and for them to feel and see it too! As a teacher you are always learning from your students. Someone who hasn’t had any formal training will paint in a very instinctive way that I find very inspiring to see and something I’m trying to focus on in my own work

Any tips for aspiring creatives who are looking to start teaching their own classes?

Work with Obby! Also, I think working our what you really want to impart to your students and the way you want to go about that is very important. What are the things you wish you had been taught, or that you'd wish your teachers had done differently when you were first learning.

Book with Harriet on Obby

Want to know more?

Interested in finding out more about our amazing Obby Teachers? Check out some blogs featuring our teachers and learn their stories below: