Rachael Ryder
Rachel Ryder, Artist
How long have you lived in Dartmouth? All my life, apart from while I was at university. I grew up in Townstal Crescent and now I live in the centre of town.
Where do you work? I’m a portrait artist, but I paint animals as well as people. I work in oils and prefer to paint from photographs rather than getting the subject to model. A photograph keeps still – but a child or a dog never does! I take commissions, and have painted people’s children, parents, dogs, even horses. It is great to paint something that means so much to someone. I work quickly because I trained as an illustrator, so deadlines were important, and I always do the face and the eyes first, then build up the rest of the picture. I am fascinated by shape and form. I can paint a face quickly, but the hair (or fur!) takes me a long time because of all the detail. Children are much harder to paint than adults because their facial proportions are all different. If you compare a child’s face to that of an adult you’ll see it’s way out – the nose is bigger, the eyes wider, in relation to the rest of the face.
I paint at home, and I’m lucky to have a large sitting room in my flat with a big window that overlooks the town with Jawbones Hill beyond. Of course making a living from art is precarious, so this year I’m also working as part of the administration team at Woodlands and that’s great fun.
Can you tell us about your family? I live with my partner Kye. My parents are Lyn and Tony Ryder and I’m the eldest of four siblings, sisters Kim and Naomi, and a little brother, Andrew. My parents are both very creative and all my childhood play revolved around Mum encouraging our gluing, sticking, drawing and making. I always seemed to have a pen or paintbrush in my hand or be drawing on the pavement with chalk. I won the pavement art competition at Regatta a couple of times! Mum is great at sewing and loves anything with fabric, ribbons and buttons. My Dad is a chef at Britannia Royal Naval College and he makes incredible cakes, very visually creative. Both my grandmothers were good at drawing, one was particularly good at dressmaking and needlework, and the other copied drawings from fashion magazines which were beautiful, very Hepburn-esque. So art is in the family.
My parents really encouraged me to study what I loved. I went to school in Dartmouth, at the primary school and the community college, and after A levels in Totnes and a foundation course in Plymouth, I went to University College Falmouth, which was formerly Falmouth College of Art. The foundation year gave me time to create a portfolio which had everything from paintings to sculpture and photography. I was going to study graphic design, but a tutor persuaded me to change to a degree in illustration because of the focus on drawing, and because I prefer colour and form to line.
What is your favourite walk? When I’m not painting I love to take photographs, and photography allows me to capture things I could never paint, such as views. I’ve tried – but I just can’t produce anything I’m happy with. How do you paint a tree? There’s too much detail – no focus! I take photographs while I walk, and I love the walk over Jawbones to Dyers Wood. It is different every time you do it. I even love it in the rain. One day we went up there and we could see the cloud on the hilltops on the way up. As we got a little higher it was misty, and then suddenly everything around us was white, and it was like being in a bubble at the top of the hill. On other days it’s so clear you can see for miles. My Mum is from Dartmouth, and she would take us to Little Dartmouth where there are rocks that gurgle and growl. My Dad grew up at California Cross and as a family we often used to walk over there, with Dad showing us his old haunts. He taught us the plants we could eat, and in the spring I still munch on primroses and sorrel which he calls eggs and bacon!
What is your favourite view? The view from my window was lovely, but the fire was just across the road from the flat and caused such terrible damage, so at the moment that view is very sad. From my parents’ house where I grew up there is a beautiful view across the rooftops and valley to Bozomzeal, and you get the most glorious sunsets there long after Dartmouth is in shade.
What is your favourite café? Café Alf Resco – it’s all in the charm. It has the ultimate atmosphere!
Do you have a favourite shop? I could spend a fortune in Distinctly Living and the Signature shops, and I like Inside Out. But I collect old typewriters, cameras, clocks and sewing machines – anything old and mechanical that just works, with no electrical power or battery. I am fascinated by the mechanisms. I also like old tea sets, cups, plates from the 1960s and 70s – the uglier it is and the more brown or green the pattern the more I will love it! So for that I shop at recycling centres, car boot sales, charity shops and second hand shops.
What is your favourite pub? We like the quiz at the Dartmouth Arms, but my favourite pub is the Windjammer. I love the red seats and the bar made out of half a boat.
Why is Dartmouth special to you? I grew up here and I love the beauty of Dartmouth. We have such lovely surroundings - and it’s home.
To contact Rachael, email her at rachaelryder@hotmail.co.uk
First Published August 2010 By The Dart