A Bit of Brace (From Western Telegraph)

A Bit of Brace

IF you ask Graham Brace what life has been like since he broke free from the shackles of nine to five to discover the artist within, the delight and enthusiasm is difficult to hide. "Life is fantastic, quite simply," he says, as the corners of his mouth curl up with complete contentment. " I'm doing now what I've always wanted to do. "Back in 1976 when we moved back to Pembrokeshire from London my intention was to develop my art and do non-graphic things - be more creative like I am now - but it never happened. Family came along and with that responsibilities." He chose the conventional life instead, relying on his graphic design expertise to create a flourishing business, which following a merger in 1999 provided a long awaited opportunity. "It was the turn of the millennium - I'd just turned 50 - and I thought if I don't do it soon it's never going to happen," explains Graham. Initially he juggled both an office job with drawing, often until the early hours, a move he readily admits became quite obsessive. But his persistence to do what he felt was "absolutely him", coupled with a disenchantment with the graphic design industry punctured by a technological revolution, has made Graham Brace into a well-respected, and popular Pembrokeshire artist. "I've got a whole new lease of life since finishing completely with the business in December. I'm so happy doing what I've always wanted to do and I count myself very lucky indeed," he says with absolute appreciation. His zest for art, combined with an inherent compulsion for detail, naturally flows into his work, with every one of his 130 paintings produced since his renaissance in 2000, a precise and vivid portrayal of the rich world that surrounds him. "I've got all the inspiration I need on my door step," he says. "I cannot think of anywhere better to practice art. "My daily walks around the shores, fields and woods in the vicinity of Llangwm provide an endless supply of subject matter. So much so that frustration sets in at the inability to capture it all." Through his predominantly coloured pencil work, Graham is also helping to erase the misplaced notion that pencils are predominately used by children for "colouring in". "They're still regarded as an unacceptable medium by the art establishment," says the founder member of the United Kingdom Coloured Pencil Society (UKCPS). "But I am keen to show what can be achieved in this very versatile medium. "The quality of artwork currently being produced in coloured pencil around the world and demonstrated by members of the UKCPS and Coloured Pencil Society of America (CPSA), signifies that recognition as a fine art medium in its own right is long overdue." So resolute is he about the integrity of his art, it's not surprising when asked if he has any reservations about trading in the security of a well-run business for the free-spirited life of an artist that he is equally as unwavering. "Absolutely not," he says. "Once I've set my mind on something I have a great belief in fate and that things will work out for the best. Some people regard that as a flaw, but it's just one aspect of my character." Graham's admirable drive combined with a tempered ambition to spread his talents further afield, confirms the mild-mannered artist as one of Pembrokeshire's painting elite.

By Emma Jones