I first met Gregory through the Society for All Artists, and was immediately struck by his friendly and open nature, and how committed he is to his passion for painting. He is best known for his portraiture of people and wildlife.
Old Bull Up Close ©Gregory Wellman
The Hatman ©Gregory Wellman
Here is our interview:
What made you get into art as a career?
I trained as an actor but left before the course ended, disillusioned. My partner, ( who I am still with over 20 years later!) thrust a box of old oil paints in my hand and told me to get painting as she had booked a solo exhibition in the local museum on my behalf!!
What is your favourite medium and why?
My favourite medium is usually the one I am painting in when I’m asked! It varies. I use soft pastel (always Unison, I am in love with them), water based oils, Artists quality acrylics and occasionally watercolour. I see or conceptualize an image that inspires me, imagine it as a painting, and the medium of choice will be the one that will best realize my vision. I may imagine it in different mediums, but usually it is obvious for me which one it should be. I love pastels and acrylics for their intensity and the ‘instant hit’ I often get from them, depending on my mood. On art holidays it’s watercolour, pencil and acrylics that can be reactivated.
What are you inspired by to create your artworks?
Inspiration comes at me from all directions, sometimes, there’s just too much it becomes overwhelming. To narrow it down, interesting faces, atmospheric light, especially on historic architecture, backlight and reflected light on faces and objects. I love wildlife and painting them expresses that love in a more sustained and satisfying way. I often spot something beautiful amongst the mundane, the ordinary. This is often a lighting effect that no one else has noticed, like the way refracted light coming through a vase is playing on a table. Or the way a green eye is illuminated by side light. Most times its the natural world, a face that I connect with on an emotional level or beautiful light.
How do you show or sell your artworks?
I enter a LOT competitions, I use social media, and write occasional articles for magazines. I also do demonstrations and workshops for art societies, so display my work there too. I put work in galleries now and then, but I usually have a steady stream of commissioned work coming in, either from previous clients or through word of mouth.
Do you have a dedicated room or space to paint in? Can you describe it?
I do, and it’s the smallest room in our Victorian house. Though I dream of a larger space, I feel thankful that I have it at all. I have seen what I would call world class wildlife paintings produced by an artist in a small family living room, with everything packed up under the stairs before the kids come home from school! My room still has an undersea mural we painted on it from when we fostered children, and the walls are a vivid blue. I know I should probably paint it white, but I love the colour too much! All my materials are in there with my cd player. The walls are full of current reference photos, competition deadlines, commissions studies I have done and an original sketch by Tolkein artist Alan Lee.
How do you approach the blank canvas?
It has to go! The blankness, at any rate. Depending on what the finished painting is to look like, it may be quickly covered by a sombre raw umber and ultramarine blue, or a vivid red. It really depends on what I want to end up with.
Do you have more than one painting on the go at any one time?
Yes! For a while I preferred to do one painting at a time, but lately I love to have six or seven on the go. This helps me assess each one with fresh eyes more often, and also encourages me to keep a light touch. (Though I frequently still overdo it!) The downside to this however is that while I love the exciting creative bit (blank canvas to a recognizable image), there nearly always comes the slow progress, hard work bit, where frustration and problem solving can creep in! You just have to keep going through this. If two or three are at this stage it can feel daunting. But when two or three are suddenly finished, what a fantastically productive feeling!
Do you have a creative support system? How important is it to your business?
I am a member of several art groups and societies, which helps inspires me, helps me feel connected and part of a community. Like many artists I need and enjoy both solitude and the company of other creatives. I love painting alone, lost in my own world, and also get a real buzz from sharing my techniques with others and giving talks. These challenge me, and demand authenticity and honesty, which helps give me confidence in myself, and seems to inspire others (so they tell me!). In business terms this can only help people get to know me and my art, whether from a sales point of view or for more bookings of workshops and demos. I am a PA for the SAA which has led to many more bookings and tutoring opportunities, and has helped people become aware of my painting holidays in Africa.
How important is Social Media to your art business?
I do not know. Ask me in two years! I have been using social media, gaining more insight into how it works and using more platforms for about a year and a half now. In terms of business, I am still at the push, push, push stage. You need to be subtle and not sell at people who are part of your social world. But also you need to create awareness of you as an artist and what you do. It’s a great starting point for marketing yourself, and can help you decide exactly what you want to project. The problem can be if it is taking up too much of your time unproductively. But, so I am told be those who have noticeably generated business through it, you need to create great and useful content consistently, and eventually there will come a point where business follows. I know people who swear by it and who tell me to keep going. It’s worked in most areas of life!
Are you taking part in any exciting events in the near future?
I have work in the Association of Animal Artists Annual Exhibition in Frodsham, Lancashire April- May, I am planning a weekend workshop in Lyme Regis, my home town, and I am looking for a small group to join me on an Art Safari in Africa this October.
After appearing in the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year last year I will be entering again, so fingers crossed!
Thank you Gregory for your time 🙂
You can see more of Gregory’s artworks here
Jeanette Clarke – 
Tim Fisher – 
Howard Jones – 
inspired to paint 