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Iwonder how many readers remember their very first experience in an art class, or who originally inspired them to take up drawing and painting? My initial interest in art was ignited more than 40 years ago by a wonderful art teacher in my sixth form at my local secondary school. Mrs Lloyd (Pamela) was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise highly academic environment. She had graduated in fine art from Newcastle University and opened my eyes to new and unfamiliar ways of looking at the world. She helped me to distinguish my own reactions to potential subject matter, media and techniques from the very traditional ideas I had about art, and which had acted as a barrier to my enjoyment of the subject. She showed me that although I didn’t have much confidence in my own creativity, once we had peeled away the conventions, I was free to explore the processes of making images and artwork in a spirit of discovery. The most precious gift she gave me was a passion for art, both practical and historical, which has remained with me for a lifetime and enabled me to spend my professional career doing a job I adore, working with the inspirational professional artists and tutors you will find every month in this magazine.