SETTING THE SCENE…
It took a dramatic turn of events to persuade nuclear design engineer Cassandra Batterby to give up a high flying career in America and become a professional landscape artist, writes Jan Woolley
“It was a defining moment,” says artist Cassandra Batterby, when she made the decision to quit a high pressure job working as a nuclear design engineer in the United States.
“Life was all work and no play and I realised I was young enough at 29, to do something with art, which I loved.”
Now living and working as a professional contemporary landscape artist in the Ribble Valley, talented Cassandra left school as a teenager not knowing what career to pursue.
By chance she took an apprenticeship with a small local design engineering company: “I had enjoyed art and technical drawing at school but I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do, I wasn’t particularly academic at all,” explains Cassandra, who is originally from Preston.
“When I took up the apprenticeship, it involved a lot technical drawing and Computer Aided Drawing, which I loved.”
At the age of just 21, when Cassandra had successfully completed her apprenticeship, she was asked to go to the US to work on a big nuclear project in Tri-Cities near Seattle.
She was working on a design and engineering project to make nuclear waste safe once it was stored underground.
“We had to design equipment that made the nuclear ‘sludge’ safe by mixing it with melted glass. At different stages of this process the nuclear waste had to be tested.
“We designed automated systems and robotic machinery that took the samples for testing.”
When Cassandra originally went to America it was with the intention of staying there for a couple of years. She ended up staying seven years after being promoted to project manager.
It was while in the US that Cassandra had begun to paint again, going to evening classes. Producing oils on canvas she concentrated on landscapes and still life and eventually began selling a few pieces.
“I just loved painting so much. The landscape opportunities were limited as much of the surrounding area was desert so it wasn’t particularly interesting, but I began selling a few paintings,” she recalls. “At the time I was working a 70 or 80 hour week. I was earning good money, but I was working so hard I didn’t have time to enjoy it.
“About the same time a close colleague of mine collapsed and died the day before he was due to retire. It was definitely a defining moment – life is too short and I wanted to do something that I loved for the rest of my life.”
Cassandra made the decision to move back to the UK, where she began showing her work at various galleries and was introduced to fellow artist John Rotherham – with whom she now lives.
At the time she was still working part time as an engineer in the nuclear industry for Chorley-based company NSG Environmental, but her dream was to become a full time artist.
“For this to happen I realised I needed some qualifications,” says Cassandra, who embarked on a Fine Art degree at UCLan.
“NSG were fantastic as they really supported me and said there was always a job for me there if I wanted one.”
In 2011, to her delight, Cassandra graduated with First Class Honours: “It was the best time of my life. Because I was older I thoroughly enjoyed the course.”
But to pursue her dream, Cassandra knew she would have to formulate a plan and for a time she returned to engineering with NSG.
“John got the opportunity to take redundancy and we both recognised it as a real chance to quit the rat race so by March 2013 we both became full time artists. But we had never run a business before so it was quite a steep learning curve!”
John had decided to work in pastels, Cassandra recalls: “It was the best work he had ever done and it gave us the idea that he could produce fantastic paintings of people’s pets.
“People love their animals so we went to various trade shows and it went really well.
“I had always found working in oil quite frustrating as it takes so long to dry. So I decided to try working with pastels and it was amazing. I loved it.”
She has since exhibited at various galleries and as a result has sold many pieces, however a major part of her work is commissions, which involves understanding her subject and what people want from a piece of art.
“I prefer dealing with people directly. Exhibiting at galleries doesn’t really allow this and I think people can be intimidated by art. But really it is quite simple – they should buy what they like.”
Using local scenes as her inspiration, Cassandra’s work began to take off and she was increasingly being commissioned by people wanting specific scenes personal to them.
With this in mind, Cassandra began searching for a studio where she could also exhibit her work and meet visitors personally.
During a visit to Bashall Barn she enquired about working from there and she now has a small studio and gallery at the barn, which is located in the heart of some of the Ribble Valley’s most stunning scenery.
“We live in such a beautiful area and working from Bashall is a dream! I get asked to do paintings as gifts or for people who have a favourite place they love to visit. It is very personal to them.
“Many are local scenes of the Ribble Valley – it may be Cromwell’s Bridge or Pendle in the mist. I love clouds especially on a stormy day.
“The emotional reactions I get from people once the painting is complete is so lovely, it is very satisfying. It outweighs any monetary compensation that I would have from a nine to five job.
“I have no regrets whatsoever about leaving the engineering world. While it’s hard work setting up in business, I would never go back. The lifestyle is so much healthier because of the lack of stress.
“As an artist there are pressures as I have to find a market for my product but I am finding most of my work is now commission based. In a world of mass produced products we need to be able to offer original art work – not with a view to investing but with a view to having something that is unique that we enjoy.
“The fact that people love my art is extremely satisfying, it’s the best feeling in the world!”
The Studio at Bashall Barn
Bashall Barn, Bashall Town
Clitheroe BB7 3LQ
07736 540895
artist@cassandrabatterby.co.uk
www.cassandrabatterby.co.uk
thestudioatbashallbarn.co.uk
www.studiobb.co.uk
