About Us
Leon Olin, N.D.D; B.A; A.T.D
Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister, once said "if you tell the people something often enough, they will believe it, no matter how stupid it is". This is a perfect example of what goes on in the art world by so-called experts and galleries. These people promulgate, as fact, that an art work be judged and valued by the signature at the bottom of a painting, rather than the quality of the work.
Most artists, throughout their lives, paint the same subject in the same style and medium. I regard those people as craftspersons, not artists.
Drawing is viewed as the poor relation of painting, where it should be valued in its own right as the foundation of painting.
No work of art should be viewed and valued objectively.
My work is the result of a lifetime’s pursuit of artistic endeavour as a professional artist and qualified lecturer of art. The fact that I have trained at Colleges of Art for six years (Leicester and Brighton), have been drawing and painting full time as a professional artist since 1974, have been the subject of three television programmes, several radio interviews, contained in countless magazines and newspaper articles, illustrated twenty three books, held over thirty exhibitions and disowned by my father, who wanted me to work in a factory and get a proper job, should be of no interest, whatsoever, to anyone, except those of a prosaic nature.
Sylvia P. Gainsford N.D.D; B.A; A.T.D
I work under my professional name of Gainsford. Ever, since I could hold a pencil, drawing has been an obsession.
I completed my education by obtaining qualifications at Royal Tunbridge Wells, and Brighton, enabling a career as an artist and Fine Art Specialist Tutor in 1963.
My wood engraving prints were accepted for an exhibition by the Royal Academy and the Royal Society of Painters, Etchers and Engravers at the age of 22.
By 1974, I had resigned as Head of Department to continue life as a full-time professional artists, to put my enthusiasm to the test. Exhibitions attracted media attention and commissions, leading to illustration work, for books and magazines. Publishers, purchased copyright for limited edition, prints, cards and later divination cards. Gaining the contract with the publisher is A.G.M/Urania/Carta Mundi in the 1980s, I produced esoteric images for Tarot of the Old Path. This went into multilingual print for world wide distribution and has recently been issued in a special edition in Chinese. Then followed Tarot of the Northern Shadows. Rune Vision, and Kabbalah cards all these were featured in the Hollywood documentary film on divination artwork by the Kalli’s foundation. The Old Path images are shown in Los Angeles network TV which swiftly elevated the set into a top world best seller. I continue to work alongside my husband and fellow professional artist Leon Olin in our studio. We both value each other's opinions on work in progress. More projects lie ahead.
Our Story
Now semi-retired, we spend our days drawing and painting and enjoying nature.
Meet the Artists
