Hello! I’m Fi. This is me. —>

Thanks for asking about me. Hmm. Tricky. What to tell you?

About the time I wrecked my knee jumping off a shed roof having chased a peacock up there so I could get a feather from its tail? (Maybe not. That makes me sound like some kind of animal abuser, whereas in fact, I’m a complete pushover for animals of any kind, especially dogs. Almost any kind. Not so keen on spiders. Sorry Charlotte.)

How about when I leapt out of the car on a driveway to yell at Bad Dog 1 for following it, leaving the door open and the brake off, only to turn around and see it rolling backward into a hedge and brought to a screaming halt by the open door bending back on its hinges? (Uh oh, that makes me sound like an idiot. Which I’m not. I’m quite bright actually. Really. Promise.)

There must be something that sounds positive, but interesting. I make a mean tiramisu. I collect antique sewing tools. And elephants. (Not real elephants, obviously. That would be weird.) I draw goblins and mermaids. I swear rather a lot. I speak my mind, and although I always try to be tactful, sometimes my enthusiasm for an argument gets the better of me. I’m not bossy, I just have better ideas. So sue me.

Maybe it would be better to stick to the art part. Although, I have to say that I’m still struggling with the whole concept of calling myself an ‘artist’ at all.

Here’s the Fine Art Gallery Version:

Fi Bowman creates illustrative textile pictures that explore the stories we share – the folklore, myth, legend and literature of our English landscape and the half-remembered connections to the past we can experience through them. Stories of faery, goblins, woodland nymphs and green men are translated into stitched and painted pictures that attempt to capture the sense of wonder our ancestors felt at the mystical world that surrounded them.

On the other hand, here’s the How I Really Talk Version:

I love the idea of ‘little mysteries’ – the hidden realm of faery, shy and secretive magical creatures, spirits of wood, water and stone. I love the stories that are told about them, not just traditionally but from the imagination of modern writers as well. I love what they tell us about our need for magic, mystery and a sense of connection to the land, even today.

I don’t believe that faery tale, myth and legend are just for children. I believe they tap into our need for a deeper picture of the world than science provides – a need for mystery and things that aren’t explained but are understood in the bones.  And a need for connection with the natural, wild world that so many of us are disconnected from in our daily lives. And I feel sorry for people who can no longer feel that.

At the same time, I have a deep and abiding love for realistic, figurative and classical art and illustration, from the Old Masters to the Pre-Raphaelites, from Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac to Brian Froud and Alan Lee. Artists like these inspire me to follow them in telling stories with my art.

Phew.

I should also explain that I’m fairly new to this professional artist stuff; it’s taken me forty years or so to gather enough courage to even put my work out there, so I’m still learning a lot and making mistakes. I do that a lot – make mistakes. (You might have gathered.)

This website is my new home on the web; I’ll be using it not just for showing my portfolio of work, and selling, but also for chronicling my journey as a new artist through my blog. I’ll be keeping a journal about the development of my own work (my work), the challenges I face in this new phase of my life (my story), the stories and artists that inspire me (my inspiration), my favourite books, resources and suppliers (my favourites), t’interweb that I know and love (my web), and some of the techniques, tools and materials I use (my stuff).

You are most cordially invited to join me here and make it a conversation.

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FAQ (condensed version)

Q. What’s with your accent? And that vocabulary and spelling that jumps all over the place?

A. I was born in England, emigrated to Vancouver, BC, when I was three, and moved back to England when I was 23, almost 19 years ago. I have dual English/Canadian citizenship. My dad wholeheartedly embraced Canadianness, accent and all, while my mum never budged an inch from her Englishness in 20 years of living there. No wonder my vocabulary and accent jump back and forth (without warning) between Vancouver and middle England. Sometimes I sound Canadian, sometimes I sound English. Sometimes it depends more on where you’re from than where I am. I like to think it makes me more of an international woman of mystery than a confused kid. You decide.

Q. “Fi”? What kind of a name is that?

A. Fi is short for Fiona and rhymes with “me” not “my”. So, that joke when you email me and start with “Hi Fi! ha ha!”? Not nearly as funny when I read it as it was when you typed it.

Q. So why don’t you spell it “Fee” then and I’d know how to pronounce it?

A. Because my name isn’t Feeona. Next question.

Q. Kinda spiky, aintcha? Chip on the shoulder much?

A. Yep, no doubt. I’m working on it, but you see, my inner child is a sassy little bitch too. My first boss told me years later that he always thought of me as “small and angry”. And I thought I was competent and clever. Go figure.

Q. Who are The Two Bad Dogs you keep talking about?

A. My two Norfolk terriers, Pippin aka Mr Pip, Pipsqueak, Squeak, Baby Boy, Bad Dog 1 (male, 4 years) and Molly aka Miss Molly, Molls, Mollywobbles, Baby Girl, Bad Dog 2 (female, 2 years). I have no children; can you tell?

Q. You like to talk about yourself, don’t you?

A. Don’t you?