Tish Johnson
One of my earliest memories is of drawing - a green crocodile to be precise, I think I was around three or four years old at the time. From a young age I always knew I wanted to go to art college; fast forward in time and I did indeed head off to study art, first to complete a Foundation Course, then a BA Honours in 3Dimensional Design, then a couple of years later an MA focusing on product design and new product development.
For the last twenty five years I have been a designer/maker: Working alongside my brother and a good friend, our workshop has been open to the public and we have been sharing our craft for pretty much everyday of those two and a half decades.
Away from the workshop, I have recently returned to the love of drawing that my inner four year old has never lost.The focus of this 2Dimensional work has centred predominantly around my love of dogs. I want to explore their characters and perhaps show something of their inner lives. Our relationship with them can speak to an almost ineffable quality of friendship and love. My aim in the work is to honour and give respect to our remarkable companions, and also to attempt to document the curious, the intimate, the complex and the completely unique relationship we have with our four legged friends.
My first dog was a noble, majestic pointer, he saw me through the lowest of lows and never ceased to be an inspiration in his strong and steady ways. Alongside him came a dalmation, we first met when she was 8 and its fair to say that she was a character and it took us a little while to find our way with one another, she walked her own path in life- a trait I have come to respect and be inspired by: Next came our little rescue from Cyprus, her transformation from abjectly terrified and shut down to the outgoing, loving and warm girl is nothing short of remarkable, from her I will value the quality of resilience. As a companion for her came the little fella from Ireland, saved from euthanasia we were lucky enough to rehome him, a beautiful lurcher he eats as quickly as he runs and sleeps upside down on our laps.
