Artful Comes to Mission House

After hosting workshops in conjunction with the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park, ‘Artful’ will now be working along with the Historic Programme of the National Trust to host workshops at the Mission House, as well as  other NTCI historic sites and parks around Grand Cayman, and eventually Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.

The programme will start on Sunday, 7th May from 9am to 12pm.

As part of the workshops, aspiring artists will be learning to draw and paint from two of Cayman’s well-known visual artists, offering personal and group art instruction for beginners and more advanced students.

Gabriell Wheaton and Tiffany Polloni, who are the operators of Artful explained more about the programme:

“We are two artists who love to teach and offer personal, guided instruction on classical drawing and watercolour painting. We believe in helping people find the joy in art while providing them with the skills and confidence they need to create the works they have dreamed of,” noted the women.

Gabrielle Wheaton is a classically trained artist with a diploma from the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto. She teaches classical realism, helping students with detailed instruction on the techniques of drawing, breaking the process down into steps that are easy to follow.

Having lived in the Cayman Islands since she was 3 years old, Gabrielle has a great love for her home country, its history and natural environment. She has worked with the National Trust, transcribing numerous interviews with Caymanians in the late 80s and early 90s, and with Dr. Philip Pedley in the early 90s when the National Archive was created.

She has also taught at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands and been a part of several exhibitions, including a special exhibition on the work of Francisco Goya. Gabrielle is also a commissioned artist. She believes in creating a welcoming, joyful environment for practising art, in which students can flourish.

Tiffany Polloni is primarily a self taught watercolor artist. Her two biggest creative influences in her life were her Granny Ethel Vinola and her Grandpa Charlie of Cayman Brac. Tiffany’s joy of creating was born while sitting on the hand made wooden floor of a small room off the kitchen of her grandparents’ home, littered with plaiting strips and thatch scraps. She remembers watching her Granny’s fingers fly while they folded and plaited the strands of silver thatch into never ending strips which were then sewn into some of the most intricate and beautiful thatch baskets and bags, using the old Singer sewing machine with the foot pedal, all while listening to Granny and Grandpa tell stories of Cayman’s past.

It wasn’t until many years later when her childhood friend, Gabrielle, asked her to come round and keep her company while working on a commissioned piece, that Tiffany found her creative spark again, and began her studies in drawing and watercolour painting. Tiffany’s love of the vibrant Caribbean colours and the fluidity of watercolour paints has spurred her to create her moniker Ethel and Charlie, in memory of her grandparents, and to combine that with her grandparents’ stories as inspiration for her paintings. Tiffany has exhibited in the National Gallery, held her own exhibition and created pieces for local businesses.

With Artful, Gabrielle Wheaton and Tiffany Polloni are combining their love of art with their love of the Cayman Islands and look forward to sharing both with anyone who attends their workshops. 

Gabrielle gives instruction on the foundational drawing skills students want and Tiffany is looking forward to sharing her skills and knowledge so that others may experience the beauty and intricacy of watercolour painting, all in the surroundings of some of the most culturally and historically important locations throughout our beautiful islands.

Find out more about Artful on their FB Page at:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089042208415