Diane Hughes

At Copthall County Grammar School, North London, Diane had inspirational teachers. Benefitting from these, she arrived at the Slade straight from school in 1961.

Diane’s first tutor was Andrew Forge (then a celebrity from Radio 3’s program The Critics). Keith Vaughan was her tutor in her final year.

Chelmer Water Meadows, mixed media

At first they were all required to do a great deal of observational work in the Antique Room, followed by work in the Life Room. Patrick George ran a course joined by students from the Bartlett School of Architecture, which Diane says was both inspirational and challenging.

In the early 1960s, expectations were changing. Students moved in, and on, to new preoccupations in response to influences from both sides of the Atlantic: abstract expressionism and of course, Pop Art movements.

Diane took herself off to the sculpture department, where she experimented with canvas and plaster, creating three-dimensional forms and painting them, which was enabled by the change from oils to acrylics.

Spring Reflection, mixed media

Diane considers herself fortunate to have been at the Slade before and during these significant changes. The practice of drawing has always been central to her work. On graduation in 1965, she became a lecturer at both the Lucy Clayton School, Bond Street, London and The Dick Shepherd School, London. Later, she returned to her old school, now as a teacher – Copthall Grammar School.

Then marriage, daughters and a move to the Essex countryside. Diane became head of Essex Adult Arts Education.

Now retired from employment, Diane has more time to devote to her painting, ceramics and sculpture. She has her own studio and she continues to hold group workshops with likeminded artists and friends.

Willow Herbs, mixed media

For more information on Diane’s exhibition at the Gallery in the Garden, click here.

To see more of Diane’s work, click here.