Artist, Lily Greenwood

Lily Greenwood was born in Gateshead, and grew up in the north east of England before moving to rural Cumbria aged six, where she lived until moving to Manchester in 2002. She mainly concentrated on children's book illustration and completed a picture book for her degree show in 2005.

A year later Lily became a tenant at Manchester Craft & Design Centre. Pursuing painting, her work reflects a love of nature, instilled from an early age. Subject matter is usually birds, flowers, or most frequently, butterflies. Work is often oriental in style; She is greatly influenced by eighteenth century printmakers such as Hokusai and Hiroshige, and Japanese kimono design.

Lily has exhibited widely in the UK and after starting to sell online has sent work across the world. Her aims are simple and rewarding - to create work from which people can take enjoyment.

Lily's predominant technique is to use her own paintings as collage material to produce a final piece. Butterflies are meticulously hand painted, then reproduced and cut out ready to arrange in a composition on the canvas. Washes of colour and hand painted or drawn details are added to the piece, before a clear gloss varnish is added, securing the piece and adding an opulent lustre, making the butterflies shine like jewels.

Original canvases, prints, cards and design-based gifts are available from the studio. For a small extra charge, a painting to your own specification can be commissioned. For inspiration, previous designs can be seen on Lily's website in the archive sections.

http://www.lilygreenwood.com/