Part-time artist persuaded to quit her job and paint full time after week-long residency in the New Forest

Lorraine Benton made her big decision after she was chosen by unusual Hampshire firm, Little Van Gogh, to become their first artist in residence.

Based in Southampton, Little Van Gogh supports up-and-coming artists by arranging for their work to be displayed in offices around the UK.

They have around 100 artists on their book and about 1,200 artworks on display at any one time.

Last year the firm offered a week’s residency at a studio in Ashurst to an artist on its roster who they believed would “benefit from time away from their normal space”.

A visit to the Forest was certainly a break from the norm for Lorraine who usually splits her time between homes in London and the French Alps and specialises in mountain-scapes in acrylic.

“I was so surprised. I’ve never done a residency before so I was really excited to be offered this amazing chance,” said Lorraine.

To prepare for the week Lorraine stocked up on art supplies she would never normally use - spray paints, pouring mediums, inks, painting boards, squeezy bottles plus “some expensive brushes as an extra present to myself”. 

“The studio was in a conservatory, and bigger than my space at home – which was great as it meant I could work on a couple of pieces at the same time,” said Lorraine. 

“Also, I went on my own. As a wife and mother, that was helpful for me in not having any distractions. I didn’t lose my focus that way, which is ideal for me as I can easily paint for 14 hours straight…”

How did here time in the New Forest differ from the Alps?

“Well, I love trees – being around them makes me feel peaceful and alive. I also have a thing about light, so the New Forest was great,” said the artist. 

Lorraine said that she spent the first couple of days experimenting with her new subject matter and medium,” said Lorraine.

“With so much time, I was able to create lots of pieces at once, working in layers. By the end of the week, I’d completed six large paintings, all with quite a different style to my usual work. I’d also gathered lots of ideas for other new pieces.”

She said the residency had given her new confidence.

“As someone who studied art as a mature student, at times it’s been hard concentrate on art with a family and my job as a pharmacist. I had become a bit deflated about my skills, and began to worry that I was kidding myself about what I could achieve.

“But being awarded the residency made me feel believed in, which is so important. It also allowed me to break down what I thought I understood about my work and my style, and to learn about myself.

“In fact, when I returned from the New Forest, I resigned from my job to concentrate on art full time. Taking part in a residency really can change your path.”

The first Little Van Gogh residency was also a positive experience for the Little Van Gogh team, who had planned the launch of the programme over several months. 

“We’re already excited about next year’s residency,” said Little Van Gogh director Chloé Adams.

“We’re looking forward to inviting more Little Van Gogh artists to take time away from their normal environment in 2017 to experience something new.”