Sherree Valentine-Daines
Born in Effingham, Surrey in 1959, Sherree Valentine-Daines did not initially pursue a career in the arts, in fact at 18 she began work as a legal secretary in London. However, as the story goes, Valentine-Daines recognised her talent for drawing in the quality of her idle sketches on her legal pads. Sherree Valentine-Daines has been at the forefront of British art for nearly four decades – a truly remarkable achievement. Over this time she has been variously described as “the face of modern British impressionism”, “artist to the stars” and “the finest figurative artist we have here in the UK” (Art of England). Valentine-Daines is both the critic’s choice and the people’s choice, winning many high profile awards, as well as being officially voted the UK’s leading Modern Impressionist. Her work has been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Tate Gallery, the Barbican, the Royal Society of British Artists, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and is held in private collections of the British Royal Family, former Prime Minister Sir John Major and Sir Ranulph Fiennes. Additionally, many famous names in the world of show-business and sport have sat for her including Joanna Lumley, John Sessions, Sir Michael Parkinson, Rick Stein, and Sebastian Coe (Lord Coe) and Jonny Wilkinson.