Valerie Petts

Upon leaving school, Valerie worked for some years in clinical research in Oxford, London and then Sydney. She began painting seriously when she returned to Oxford in 1980, where she still lives today. Although she paints mainly in watercolour, she has also done some work in oils and in fresco.

Text: Valerie Petts

Valerie Petts: The High VP2

Valerie Petts: Thames in Flood VP32

Ken Messer

Born in Newport Monmouth he was educated at the City of Oxford School. On leaving school he went into accountancy, leaving it after six years to fly all over the world with BOAC. A motor accident cut short his flying career and at the age of thirty-three he joined Pergamon Press in their design department, after six years he became Studio Manager, in charge of Art and Design. In 1974 he left publishing to freelance as a graphic designer and painting watercolours started to take up more of his time. He has since won prizes in three consecutive biennial Saunders "Artist in Watercolour" international competitions and in the Artist Magazine watercolour competition.

Text: Ken Messer

Ken Messer: Christ Church Meadow KM2

Ken Messer: Magdalen Tower KM17

Nina Carroll

Nina Carroll (1932-1990) was a designer of murals, an illustrator of children’s books and a watercolour artist. She studied at Cheltenham School of Art and at the Ruskin School, Oxford. She lived in Kettering and later in Oxford. Her husband, John Steane, was headmaster of Kettering Grammar School in 1964 to 1976. Both Nina and her husband were founder members of the Kettering Civic Society, and John became their first Secretary. She exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of Watercolour Painters, the Society of Women Artists and the New England Art Club. Her works are in the collection of the Guildhall Museum, Northampton and the Alfred East Art Gallery in Kettering, amongst others.

Nina Carroll: Radcliffe Square NC3