Hilary Bryanston, South Wales artist

Hilary Bryanston lives and works near Pontardawe in South West Wales.

She has been painting and drawing virtually since she was born. She went to study Art full time at a foundation art course in Solihull from 1968 to 1970. After this she attended Newport College of Art and Design from 1970 to 1973 and obtained a diploma in Fine Art and Complementary Studies (Diploma in Art and Design). Among her tutors were Jack Crabtree, Monty Seroto, Keith Richardson Jones (popularly known as KRJ), Keith Armatt and Anthony Stevens.

This qualification is now equivalent to a degree. 1973 was the last year of the Dip AD.

She then went on to study full time for a year at Cardiff doing an Art Teacher's Certificate Course. However, it became quickly apparent that she did not feel comfortable in the school environment and by 1976 she was teaching adult education classes in London.

She discovered stone carving and wood carving when she was in her thirties and living in Birmingham. The Midlands Art Centre offered excellent courses in these subjects as it had an ethos based around the Arts and Crafts principles of creating by hand.