A Fish Called Kitty
An interview with the Artist Known as Snorkelfish…
I was fortunate enough to be granted an audience with one of Goodwick’s many artists, Ms Kitty Parsons. My first question to her, naturally, was when and where her public can currently see her work. The answer is that she is soon to open her latest exhibition.
From Thursday 1 June to Wednesday 28 June, Kitty will be exhibiting her work at Fishguard Library. As her alter ego, Snorkelfish, she will show mre than 50 of her remarkable, colourful and splendidly formed works. Ranging from undersea coral-and-fish landscapes to Gardens of Eden to vistas set in outer space, Snorkelfish’s works are sure to gladden the heart with their exuberant use of line, colour and form.
After a lifetime of pursuing other art forms, Kitty only began producing this type of work during the first lockdown. She was in hospital in Pembroke Dock for several months, recovering from an accident, and the VC Gallery kindly offered her some art materials to aid her in her recuperation. She took to it immediately and has since displayed her creations at a number of exhibitions throughout Pembrokeshire. Her first solo exhibition was at the VC Gallery in February this year.
Kitty sees her mission as conjuring up joyful images for our challenging times, and she sees gardens (both on land and under the sea) as the way to do that.
In keeping with her quest for bringing joy, and in recognition that we are in the throes of a cost-of-living crisis, Kitty has decided to take the price tags off all works in the current exhibition. Instead of demanding a specific price, Kitty invites you to take home an artwork for the amount that you think you can afford. If you like it, make it yours.
We think you’ll agree that her innovative attitude to pricing is sure to bring a smile to faces around the county.
I asked Kitty why all the seascapes. ‘A good question,’ she replied. ‘I suppose the main thing is that I’ve always been passionate about snorkelling among coral, hence, Snorkelfish. It’s been one of the great pleasures of my life that I can no longer indulge in because of disability. Creating these images has helped me feel part of that world still and I hope that my pictures, as well as bringing happiness to those who come to own them, will help to highlight the plight of the coral reefs and the other environmental threats that our precious planet is currently facing.’
This author could not agree more.
And the pricing policy? ‘I just thought that everyone should be able to enjoy paintings, and there’s no point in taking the time to produce visual art if no one ends up seeing it. So please come to Fishguard Library and if you like something you see, buy one of my pictures. Just pay what you can afford. You really can’t get it wrong. Take it home and enjoy it!’
Below is a photo of your author and his partner appreciating two of Snorkelfish’s artworks which are currently on display for the benefit of visitors to their new home in Somerset.
Snorkelfish is also taking part in Wild Places, Wild Minds at Brynberian Community Centre until 4 June.
Contact kitty at speaktofish@gmail.com or 07760307880.
