THIS isn’t the first time that artist Deborah Battaglia and her creative talents have featured in the pages of the Swindon Advertiser.

She had her first taste of success when she was a pupil at Lethbridge Road Infant School in 1963 when the school was visited by an Adver photographer and Deborah was one of the young artists featured.

Now, 53 years later, she is preparing to open up her studies to share her artwork with the wider public as part of Swindon Open Studios this autumn.

“This will be my third year of showing my work as part of the open studio trail, and I am very much looking forward to it,” she said. “I work mainly in oils and watercolours, and my subjects range from natural objects, landscapes, fish and flowers to swimmers and dancers. This year I will also be showing my prints for the first time. If you come to my studio expect to find vibrant colour and decorative surfaces.

“Visitors will see vibrant watercolours, prints and oil paintings on the theme of landscape, flowers, fish and carnival.”

Living and working in Swindon herself, she said she had always loved to paint: “One of my earliest memories of painting is when I first started school. I was painting at an easel when a photographer came and took a photo of me which was then published in the Evening Advertiser. For as long as I remember I've loved to paint.

“My favourite artist has to be Gillian Ayres. I've loved her work since I first saw it over 35 years ago, and it never ceases to move me. She deals in vibrant colour and paint in a way which I find thrilling. It is my ambition to be like her, still producing her large joyful canvases at the age of eighty plus.

“My top tip for budding artists would be to just do it! I believe that any one can produce something worthwhile. As long as you have the motivation to try, the ability to look hard and a little patience you can be creative.

“One of my favourite pastimes is to go walking and sketching with my watercolours. I find this gives me a wonderful feeling of wellbeing.”

Swindon Open Studios will take place on Saturday, September 3, Sunday, September 4 and Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11.

Deborah’s studio, which can be found in the north east zone of the SOS map is based at 21 Kingsdown Road, SN2 7PE and she will be welcoming visitors over the course of both weekends between 11am and 5pm when she will be serving tea and cake to her visitors.

For more details visit www.swindonopenstudios.blogspot.com. Copies of the open studios brochure containing details of each venue will be distributed around the town from early next month.