Worthing markets manager launches sideline business from her shed

Worthing markets manager Lindsay Midali has tapped into her artistic talents to help her cope with lockdown blues.
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Lindsay enjoyed art at school but it was not until she joined a life art class after celebrating her 60th birthday that she started trying a wider range of art and mediums.

Wendy Barrett at Drawing Room really encouraged her and Lindsay has now set up a small business, Pawtraits From My Shed, drawing pastel pencil portraits of cats and dogs as a sideline to her day job as events and markets manager at Worthing Town Centre Initiative

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Lindsay said: “Wendy was so encouraging and persuaded me to try all types of art and mediums. I discovered I love using chalk, pastel crayons and pencils but I also like using charcoal, too.”

Lindsay Midali with Pawtraits From My Shed client Katy ThorpeLindsay Midali with Pawtraits From My Shed client Katy Thorpe
Lindsay Midali with Pawtraits From My Shed client Katy Thorpe

Her interest in pet portraits developed after she drew a picture for friends in Rome of their dog, sent it to them and posted it on her Facebook page under the guise of ‘Shed Art’.

Lindsay said: “I had some lovely positive comments and people wanting to see my daily art. However, depending on my mood, some of it was questionable. Then I did some dog portraits for friends and suddenly it snowballed.”

Lindsay, who has also worked as TEFL teacher in Shoreham and Worthing, has also worked on a remembrance theme in the run up to November 11, recycling pages from discarded war books and painted poppies on them. These framed prints and are being promoted by Kim’s Bookshop in Arundel and Chichester.

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The art business really helped Lindsay to cope during lockdown, when she was isolated from her two sons and daughter.

Lindsay Midali's remembrance prints, using recycled pages from discarded war booksLindsay Midali's remembrance prints, using recycled pages from discarded war books
Lindsay Midali's remembrance prints, using recycled pages from discarded war books

She explained: “During Lockdown, I felt very, very down at times as my son and his family, including my baby grandson and my daughter, are in Canada.

“My other son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren are thankfully local but I was unable to give them a hug either - so by immersing myself in art it helped me forget the situation we were all facing. I vowed to draw something every day during lockdown, which I did.”

Find out more on Lindsay’s Facebook page, Pawtraits From My Shed and on Instagram. Lindsay is now accepting commissions in the run-up to Christmas, telephone 07771 771182.

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