LIVERPOOL artist Annette Dunn creates paintings using B & Q emulsion.

But there is nothing magnolia about her work: a series of vivid abstracts which have already caught the eye of curators at both the internationally acclaimed Saatchi Gallery and the Chelsea based Walton Fine Arts Gallery.

But the former nurse, from Allerton, has never exhibited her stuff in here home city - until now.

The biggest ever collection of her works is now on show at Mathew Street's View Two Gallery.

Annette’s painting talents first emerged as a teenager at school in Huyton.  But she left school without any qualifications, later discovering she was dyslexic, and her ability went by the wayside.

In her twenties she enrolled on an art foundation course at Liverpool’s Mabel Fletcher College, studying at the same time to gain a handful of ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels she had missed out on at school.

A

nnette more or less put art onto the back-burner, after gaining degrees and diplomas from both Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool. That led to a career in nursing and then social work.  Her interest in painting  was rekindled when her mum, Jane, became terminally ill.

“My mum always knew I had this love for art and it was her dying wish that I should take up painting. So I decided to fulfil mum’s wish and I have been painting and creating sculptures ever since.”

Inspired by Picasso, Dali, Jasper Johns, and Jackson Pollock, she says: “I am interested in abstract expressionism and post war art. My work reflects social and environmental issues, like climate change and women’s issues. I apply different styles to my work. For me the use of colour, form and emotional content is of the upmost importance to be conveyed to the viewer.  With a blank canvas, inspiration, emotion, passion and hard work,  the end product is formed.”

As well as those emulsion paints, Annette also uses acrylics and water colours.

“I hit on the idea of using everyday household paint to create striking what I call ‘over-the-sofa’ paintings. These look great against a plain wall in the home,” said Annette.

For a while Annette was based at the ‘old’ Bluecoat in what was called the Tyson Smith studio. There she gained inspiration from artist Terry Mc Gunicle and sculptor Terry McDermott. She now works from her Allerton home or in a studio in Duke Street.

The Annette Dunn New Exhibition runs until February 6 at View Two, 23 Mathew Street, Liverpool L2 6RE. Gallery open Fridays and Saturdays noon until 5pm and at other times by appointment.
Further details on:   www.viewtwogallery.co.uk