I am a portrait and wildlife artist working in pastel, coloured pencil and graphite and I am based in Kent, England.

As a teenager I had to make a choice. Stay at school then go to art college or take the job I was offered in Carnaby Street - in the office during the week and in the shop at weekends.

I did go to college eventually, secretarial college, and my career developed into office management. With multinational companies I travelled the world at their expense and during the 1980s I was living in Singapore, running a branch office. Ex‑pat life is too surreal to last for ever so I returned to work in the City of London. Then commuting became a chore so I became office manager for a suburban firm of Independent Financial Advisers.

Throughout this career I had little time to pursue my love of drawing until working locally gave me time to rediscover the pleasure of portraying pets for friends and family in pastel and pencil. Word spread and with a steady flow of commission requests and encouragement from David I left the rat race and become a full-time artist.

Joining online art communities and art societies I uncovered a whole new world (literally!) of pencils and papers to try out. My many distant friends provided support and encouragement. I moved into the world of graphite portraits, then coloured pencil, then drawing people as well as pets and now I draw wildlife pictures. The Internet enables me to import pencils and papers not on sale in the UK to achieve exactly the effects I am seeking.

With the confidence gained from regular contact with other artists I tentatively put work forward for exhibitions and was selected for showing. And I won prizes!! It's a huge accolade to be acclaimed by one's peers.

My recent successes in national and international competitions have been Best in Show, Reserve Best in Show (twice) and Highly Commended (twice). My work has been exhibited, and sold, in London and provincial galleries.

I have been awarded Signature Status by the UK Coloured Pencil Society and I am an associate member of the Society of Feline Artists.

http://www.sueclinker.co.uk/

http://www.smart-arts-studio.co.uk/

Sue Clinker - " Doin' a Strech "

Sue Clinker - " Gizmo "

Sue Clinker - " Jodie "

Sue Clinker - " Lookin' out "