About the Artist - Susan Gardner
About the Artist
British Contemporary Oil Painter Susan Gardner
Susan Gardner lives in a small village in Leicestershire, UK, with her dogs. Together they enjoy the benefits of living beside a beautiful woodland park within the National Forest. The area is rich in wildlife, something Susan has always been passionate about and takes great pleasure in observing.
Animals have played a central role throughout most of Susan's working life. She began her career in Norfolk, training horses and riders, before spending the next twenty years working with dogs. She has always shared her life with dogs and, until fairly recently, owned three horses who were with her for almost thirty years. When she began to explore her lifelong love of art and develop her own artistic practice in her early forties, it felt entirely natural to paint the animals and birds that inspire her so deeply.
Around that same time, Susan was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition that attacked her sight, leaving her with partial vision and the need for ongoing treatment. Fortunately, with a few adaptations, she has been able to continue painting and considers herself extremely fortunate to do so.
When she is not painting Susan enjoys hanging out with Mr B and walking her dogs. Another delight is tending her small, and tangled garden where she grows a great many sunflowers, or enjoying coffee with friends.
Following a serious accident in 2024 that very nearly cost her a leg, Susan is still not fully mobile. She considers herself incredibly fortunate, however, and is now able to walk again, albeit with a few adaptations.
Susan has a longstanding affection for classic Citroën 2CV and Dyane cars and has owned several over the years. Her favourite was a bright red 2CV called "Suzie", whose eccentric personality was matched only by her tendency to surprise her owner. Susan hopes there may be another 2CV in her future one day.
