Beki Adam
Born in 1966 in Mid Sussex, Beki has led an unusual life. See wikipedia for the variety .. from TopGear via Buddhist monasteries to living and working on Wolstonbury Hill just outside Brighton. Returning to 2D artworks after a decade of 'positioning myself and others in the landscape'. Whilst developing an eco campsite, with strategically placed cabins, Beki also bought, restyled and sold 3 homes. "I do love interior design, with basic Feng Shui learned from Tibetan Buddhist Masters. The last house, in Woodstock, New York, was a lot of fun." Interior design hones colour mixing, textiles, and spatial placements skills, - overlapping forms of creativity .
Now most inspired by the landscape where she lives, which appeared in a dream during her time as a Buddhist nun (1992-2010) she says "Its impossible not to be affected - and want to share - what I witness here. It's such a stunning expanse". However owning the farmland and campsite demanded a lot of attention and temporarily stopped her "smaller" work painting and drawing - which began after Beki completed a silent 3 year retreat in New York. In 2004 she held a solo exhibition - whilst still a nun and working under her monastic name Ani Chudrun.
Still practicing meditation, Beki is emerging again, this time encouraged by Artist Open Houses. She studied art history in her own time: "I have no formal art training, but I spent considerable time in front of the Great Master's works, especially at the Met in NY and, literally, leaned in to within inches of Van Goghs and Monets, and contemplated... What were they doing? It felt like a type of osmosis. At quiet times, if I stood close and long enough, it seemed possible to listen to the paintings. A bit like listening to a landscape."
Her painting style and materials are evolving, although the line work looks exactly the same. A lecturer at the RA commented that it didn't need to develop, but at nearly 60, Beki now intends to focus more fully on her art which "transports the space of a vast landscape or skyscape and allows them to be transported inside - they themselves then become a part of an interior design. It's up to any collector to decide what will add just the right touch, or vibe, to their home. I love to see where my work ends up - it's like watching another artist - the home curator, add another layer of creativity to my work. It has that satisfying feeling of collaboration by design."