Annie Ovenden was born in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, 1945. She studied at High Wycombe School of Art, 1961-5. Worked as a graphic designer 1966-69. Married Graham Ovenden in 1969 (now separated) and moved to Cornwall, 1973 (near Bodmin), where she taught painting and drawing for the Adult Education Service, 1992-1999.
Areas of Work
Painting (oils, acrylics, gouache and watercolour), pencil drawing, graphic design, theatrical sets, costume and prop design, book design.
Special Features
“The Beech Tree Series” – 12 paintings of a Beech Tree through the seasons with sonnets
“Portraits of a Village Community” – water colour portraits of people in her village
Publications
Annie Ovenden’s work appears in all of the Ruralists Books and she has produced art work for the Arden Shakespeare editions. Several works are included in the general books about the Ruralists. Other published works include:
Margaret Kennedy The Constant Nymph, Virago Modern Classics, 1983 ISBN 0-86068-354-0
Ophelia by Annie Ovenden is reproduced in full colour on the cover.
Simon Rae (editor) The Orange Dove of Fiji, Hutchinson, 1989. ISBN 0-09-173950-0 – Includes pen and ink drawing illustrating the poem Bog, by John Fuller pages 42 and 43 (The illustration was also used in The Secret Garden, Hutchinson, 1989.)
Archie Miles, Silva, the tree in Britain Ebury Press, 1999, hardback, 400 pages ISBN 0-091-86788-6 Page 296 reproduces Tree at Panters Bridge by Annie Ovenden. Page 312 contains two paragraphs about the Ruralists.
Daniel Nanavati, Shänne Sands and Annie Ovenden, The Beech Tree, Footsteps, 2000 hardback, quarterbound on linen Twelve full-page reproductions of paintings by Annie Ovenden, each accompanied by a poem.
Maggie Campbell-Culver The Origin of Plants, Headline, 2001 ISBN 0-7472-7214-x – Annie Ovenden’s painting Rhododendron sino-grande – leaves is reproduced on page 229.
Annie Ovenden (editor and artist), Completing the Picture Ruralist Fine Art, 2003 ISBN :0-9545508-0-3, 118 pages, numerous black and white illustrations of Mount village life. Twelve portraits by Annie Ovenden reproduced in full colour. Edition of 500; Glossy illustrated cover: approx 50 hardback, 450 softback. Copies are available.
Veriditas, An Arboreal Alphabet Inky Parrot Press, 2007, 26 Drawings by Annie Ovenden. Poem by Graham Ovenden Edition of 164 of which 24 are specials with an additional print. A four page prospectus was issued reproducing two of the illustrations.
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