Meet Ann Bristow who has a rather wobbly outlook on life as her artwork reveals.

%image(15843620, type="article-full", alt="I like people to smile when they view my pictures and this one of The Little Train in Bridlington is a favourite with adults and children alike. It was a joy to paint.")

%image(15843621, type="article-full", alt="Scarborough harbourside")

%image(15843622, type="article-full", alt="People often ask how it happened that I started to paint"wobbly" pictures and I suppose it is because I love the vivid colours I use and when I paint true landscapes I feel as the colour is distorted I need to do the same with the line.")

For 30 years I taught in a primary school in Bradford. I loved the art sessions I did with the children and my classroom was always bright and vibrant with displays of their work. After my retirement to the beautiful Yorkshire coast I determined to develop my own abilities. I took classes and joined the local art society of which I am now secretary. I experimented with a variety of styles and techniques. I was inspired by the coastal towns and villages with their quirky features and beautiful scenery and decided they would be the focal point of my pictures.

I have always enjoyed using vibrant jewel like colours so decided that as the colours were distorted I would also distort the lines. This approach seemed to make people smile and so my signature style was born.

It has caused lots of discussion. People started to want to buy my pictures and a few local galleries displayed them for me. I then became involved with an artist co-operative based in the Old Town in Bridlington. This is a social enterprise where local artists give their time on a voluntary basis to man the gallery when they rent a wall in the beautiful Georgian building that is the Old Town Gallery in the High Street. It is owned by the Old Town Association which is trying to regenerate the area.

I have recently branched out into commissions for people who enjoy my work and wish to have their own house or street ‘wobbled up’. It really is fun to do. I feel I am extremely lucky to have had such a long and rewarding career in teaching and now have been able to develop my talents in this way. If you would like to see more of my work please go to wobblycoastalart.co.uk