DELIA DELDERFIELD was born in Hertfordshire,
England. She studied at Cambridge College of Art and Kingston-upon-Thames
College of Art specializing in illustration and etching, graduating
in 1972 with a BA Honours in Art and Design.
After freelancing as an illustrator
in London she accepted an offer to become Art Director and editor for
a London publishing house. In 1976 she decided to leave London to travel,
but once in Greece she found the need to go any further receded. As
Lawrence Durrell wrote in "Prospero's Cell": "Other
countries may offer you discoveries in manners of lore or landscape;
Greece offers something harder - the discovery of yourself."
Delia uses the technique of etching
and aquatint to achieve her distinctive style. As she explains: "my
work is mainly coloured on one copper plate when printing, so giving
an impression of a very fine veil of colour similar to a watercolour
but using the oil bound pigment of etching. The hand wiping of
the plate is very important and also the control of the 'biting' of
the aquatint, being a dusting of fine resin. This ultimately means that
the whole process can only be carried out by myself and although rather
exacting it means I can control the image from the first line drawn
through the wax on the plate until the final drying and signing of the
edition." Delia lived permanently on Corfu where she had her
own studio and gallery until 1989 when she returned with her son to
England. She now spends her time between England and Greece.
'Greece never fails to inspire
me, the combination of light and texture is unique. I have become obsessed
by the timeless quality of the old family houses in Corfu often hidden
from view in wonderfully wild and neglected grounds - I wish I could
record them all.'
Delia has completed a number of
commissions, including one for Government House in the Falkland Islands.
Her distinctive work is appreciated by and been purchased by other artists,
such as the late Nicholas Hadjikyriacos-Ghikas. Delia's work can be
found in private collections in Greece and worldwide.
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