" At the age of 13 I wrote in my diary that I wanted to become an artist or a fashion designer............... I never did.
The diary also has sketches for clothes and jewellery. My favourite subject in high school (in Australia) was art and I wanted to go to Art College........................... I never did.
My parents moved back to Holland and I had to start working.
Sad story? Not at all.

I enjoyed becoming a receptionist, a wife, a tour guide, a photo model, a mother, a student, a recycling consultant and a Public Relations officer. Despite my busy life, art was always a part of it. I attended art classes, visited art galleries, made outrageous fancy dress costumes and jewellery and built or decorated objects. Holland is bursting with art! I love Dutch painters Kees van Dongen and Karel Appel, but also Gustav Klimt and many of the impressionists and expressionists.

I had the good fortune to retire at 55 and I haven’t stopped painting since! It’s a passion. I draw and paint mainly portraits and figures, either realistically or in the abstract. I have had a few exhibitions in Holland and Spain to sell some of these works that I just can’t help but produce. I love my addiction! So maybe I did become an artist after all?

Judge for yourself: 15 of my paintings are on permanent display in Lews Cafe on Avenida del Faro in Torrox Costa or visit my website www.cobybloemsma.com "
Click to see some of Coby's work here.

Born and brought up in Cambridge, Elspeth graduated with an honours degree in Fine Art at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. After a career of teaching, she has taken up painting again on retirement to Spain. Elspeth has exhibitied in several exhibitions in the area, on an individual basis and in combination with other artists.
Elspeth can be contacted by email

Click here to see Elspeth's work