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Artist Bio

Amanda Drage

Born: 1984

Lives: Northamptonshire, England, UK

I'm a self-taught artist currently living in the small market town of Rothwell, and I specialise in pastel portraits of pets. I've been doing this for a living for over a decade now, and I feel incredibly lucky to spend my days doing what I enjoy most.

I may have only been drawing and painting animals in a professional capacity for a relatively short while, but as far as I can tell, I have always been an artist. I have always drawn. When I was little, I thought horses were the most amazing things ever to walk the earth, and throughout my childhood I would draw them endlessly. I never got tired of it! I drew horses and dogs all through school, both during lunch breaks in the library, and in lesson time (and yes I was caught and told off a few times). Then I'd get home and draw them some more.

Amanda Drage in her studio

My obsession with drawing continued into adult life. During my twenties, I would come home from work, eat my dinner and then sit down to paint or sketch for the rest of the evening. Drawing and painting became something I would throw myself into during stressful times. The worse my day had been, the harder I'd work. At this time, art was my sanctuary - my motive was to learn, improve and to just enjoy the feeling of creating. I tried new mediums and techniques, and new subjects too; it was during this time that I cultivated a passion for painting birds. Although I was really quite dedicated to creating artwork, the thought of doing it for a living didn't enter my mind once, purely because I didn't think it would be possible.

I'd already been sharing my work online - first on the website deviantART, and then on Facebook. It was a wonderful feeling to connect with other artists, and people who enjoyed seeing my work. In time, I began to receive requests from people who wanted me to draw their own animals. And so I found myself tentatively dipping my toe into the waters of pet portrait artistry! After some time (and much deliberation) I made the decision to leave my job and become a full-time artist.

In the time since, pet portraits have remained my primary focus, and I continue to enjoy them immensely. Alongside these, I work on my own paintings of wildlife and other subjects that inspire me. I also enjoy experimenting with different methods and learning new ways of creating. Making art is a constant journey, and for me it's essential to allow time to develop my own creative practice.

 

Being able to do something that fulfils me every day doesn't come without a measure of some surprisingly hard work. Like many artists, I run everything absolutely on my own (with the exception of some assistance with my website, hanging work and creating painting panels, from my amazing other half, without whose support I would probably collapse!)

With that said, I am hugely thankful for those who support me by choosing my work, be it by commissioning a portrait, or buying an original piece or a print. I'm also very grateful to everyone who supports me in other ways - by following my work online and leaving comments, and coming to see my work in person. Even though I am fairly certain I would still be creating artwork even if there was no-one else on earth to see it, knowing there are people who enjoy what I do and hearing their kind and encouraging comments makes me smile every day. I hope you will enjoy it too!

Past Exhibitions

2024    |    Northants and Rutland Open Studios Pop-up Group Exhibition - Boughton House, Kettering

2024    |    Northants and Rutland Open Studios Spring Open Exhibition - Lamport Hall, Northants

2023    |    Northants Open Studios - Group Exhibition at Rooftop Arts, Corby

2023    |    Northants Open Studios - Central Exhibition at Lamport Hall, Northants

2023    |    Northants Open Studios Spring Open Exhibition - Lamport Hall, Northants

2023    |    Stanwick Lakes Visitor Centre, Northants

2022    |    Resident Artists Exhibition 2022 - Rooftop Arts, Corby

2022    |    Northants Open Studios - Group Exhibition at Stanwick Lakes Visitor Centre, Northants

2022    |    Northants Open Studios - Central Exhibition and Group Exhibition at Lamport Hall, Northants

2022    |    Alderton Art Festival - Alderton, Northants

2022    |    Northants Open Studios Spring Open Exhibition - Lamport Hall, Northants

2021    |    Northants Open Studios - Central Exhibitions at JGallery Moulton and Jeyes of Earls Barton, Northants

2021    |    "To Portray or To Portrait" - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby    |    Online exhibition

2020    |    "Red" - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby    |    Online exhibition

2020    |    Northants Open Studios - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby

2020    |    "Connect" - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby    |    Online exhibition

2020    |    Postcard Exhibition - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby

 

2019    |    Resident Artists Exhibition 2019 - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby

2019    |    "Catching The Light" - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby    |    Solo exhibition      

2019    |    Sketchbook Show - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby

 

2018    |    Resident Artists Exhibition 2018 - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby

2018    |    Summer Open Show - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby

 

2017    |    "Corby & Migration" - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby    |    With Warren Shaw; project commissioned by Deep Roots Tall Trees

2017    |    "Animals, Colour & Light" - Alfred East Art Gallery, Kettering    |    Solo exhibition

2017    |    Summer Open Show - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby

 

2016    |    "Open 16" - Alfred East Art Gallery, Kettering    |    Winner of overall prize & People's Choice award

 

2015    |    Artisans Fayre - Chichele College, Higham Ferrers

 

2013    |    "Corby Open 2013" - Rooftop Arts Centre, Corby

2013    |    "Open 13" - Alfred East Art Gallery, Kettering

2013    |    Gallery Launch Exhibition - The Gallery Sutton Bonington, Leics

 

2012    |    "Amanda Drage & Warren Shaw" - Bridge Street Gallery, Rothwell    |    Joint exhibition with Warren Shaw

2012    |    Northamptonshire Open Studios - Bosworths, Burton Latimer

 

2011    |    Northamptonshire Open Studios - Barton Hall, Kettering

2011    |    Gumley Open Gardens - Gumley, Leics

2011    |    Spring Show - Barton Hall, Kettering

Awards

2024    |    Rugby Open 2024     |    Anna Lorimer Framing Prize awarded for "Trying To Find The Right Words"

2021    |    Northamptonshire Open Studios    |    Workshop Prize courtesy of The Shire Workshops

2016    |    "Northants Open 16"    |    Overall First Prize

 

2016    |    "Northants Open 16"    |    People's Choice Award

Publications

2016    |    "Losing Altitude"    |    Illustrations for collaborative art book focusing on rare bird species    |    Purchase the book here

 

2015    |    "Dogs Today Magazine"    |    Cockapoo art feature

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