Thanks Sir, says winning Marlborough artist (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Thanks Sir, says winning Marlborough artist

9:29am Thursday 28th October 2010 in News By Nigel Kerton

Former Pewsey Vale School student Kathryn Spreadbury has won a top award for her work as an illustrator and said the art teaching she had while at school undoubtedly helped her choose her career.

Miss Spreadbury, 22, is the daughter of John and Ray Spreadbury, who run a TV radio shop in Burbage, the village where she was brought up although she attended Easton Royal School.

One of her pieces of work was chosen for a gold award in the Association of Illustrators annual Images awards that showcase the work of the best British illustrtaors.

She won the New Talent gold award with a piece of work she did in her final project at the University of Creative Arts at Maidstone where she obtained a top-grade BA degree.

Her winning illustration was inspired by Canary Wharf in London where her brother Adam works in financial services and her award included a trophy and £500 to help her develop her career.

Her winning illustration is also included in an exhibition that is touring the UK.

She said: “Thousands entered the AOI Images competition and there were only three finalists and it was a great shock to get gold.”

Ms Spreadbury, whose long term boyfriend Iain Cox is also an illustrator, had previously had some of her illustrations displayed in the Canary Wharf Tower.

She said a lot of her success in art was due to the support and encouragement she had at Pewsey Vale School from her design and technology teacher Peter Hussey.

“I do owe a lot to Mr Hussey for the way he always encouraged me,” said Ms Spreadbury, who said her interest in art stemmed back to her childhood.

“I have always been interested in art and I began drawing so far back I can’t remember.

“Even when I was at Easton Royal School I said I wanted to be an illustrator. When I left school the reason I wanted to be an illustrator and not just and artist was because I knew there would be a greater choice of work.”

However Ms Spreadbury, who is living Maidstone in Kent, is currently waiting for commissions to come in and is helping pay the housekeeping costs by working part-time in her local Mothercare branch.

She said: “I am hoping to get some work and some commissions as a result of my award and I really want to do work with newspapers and magazines. I would ideally like to do cover art.”

Her work, including the award winning piece, can be seen on Miss Spreadbury’s website www.kathrynspreadbury.co.uk