Wirral arts: Never too late to pick up paint brush

Jan 23 2013 by Linda Foo Guest, Birkenhead News

A WIRRAL artist is a prime example that you are never too old to paint.

Starting late hasn’t deterred Graham Sheard from fulfilling his life-long ambition of being an artist.

As he gained his fine arts degree in twilight years, but has been a passionate painter since he was 15.

Graham began working as a ship’s painter at Camell Laird shipyard after his dad refused to allow him to study art at college.

And so at 60, he seized the opportunity to study art at Wirral Met College.

During Graham’s artistic career he has exhibited in many local galleries as well as producing artwork for Camell Laird.

His work can also be seen at St Laurence Social Club in Birkenhead.

He specialises in producing vivid impressionist rendering of maritime scenes and works in acrylic, oil and charcoal.

For many years Graham has ran arts classes in the Lady Lever Art Gallery.

He suffered a stroke last year whilst on a painting holiday in India, so since then has resided at Oxton Grange Care Home.

During his stay he set up classes to teach fellow residents.

Graham, 72, from Birkenhead, said: “My artwork is decorating the corridors of the home. I still produce pieces of artwork and draw caricatures of staff members.

“I come from a shipbuilding family so my interest started from there, and I specialise in marine art and ships in dry dock.

“I paint mostly with acrylics in a loose impressionist style, I like painting loosely.

“I got the opportunity to study fine art when the shipyard closed, so that was the starting point as my father wouldn’t let me go to art college when | was younger.

“As part of my art degree 12 years ago, I did an acrylic painting of the German U boat in Seacombe before it was cut up. The sun shining on the rust attracted me to it and I set up my easel.

“After my studies I was an art tutor for several years, volunteering with Age Concern. After that I formed my own group called Gra-Art around five years ago at the Lady Lever.

“I want people to enjoy art and see how therapeutic it is.

“It has been a journey for myself and a stepping stone to fulfilling my ambition. I am grateful to Cammell Laird for giving me this opportunity.”