2019

Oil on Linen

20 x 24″

ER: Do you have a nickname?
HP: Growing up my best friend called me ‘Ding’ after a place her dad worked called ‘Heather Bell’ she still calls me that today.

ER: What is your favorite saying?
HP: An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind – Ghandi

ER: Where did you grow up? Where are your parents/grandparents from? How did they influence you?
HP: I grew up in Wolverhampton a rural suburb of a busy industrial town in the heart of England.
My parents, grandparents, and great grandparents were born and raised in England, Scotland and Wales, I still have a lot of family there and visit as often as I can.
I was fortunate to grow up in a warm and loving home in a friendly community where everyone knew everyone. My parents never pushed us but encouraged my brothers and myself to do our best, be courteous and kind at all times, be independent and live within our means.

ER: What is your passion?
HP: I love nature and being outdoors especially at day break, I miss climbing the hills of my childhood, and feeling the cold wind on my face and anticipate a hike at each visit.

ER: Why do you live here? How did you get here?
HP: I met my husband when I lived NY and after a few years running a pub in England in the 1990’s we decided to return to the US and raise our children in Florida, where we felt there were more opportunities available to them.

ER: Tell us about your children.
HP: Best Thing Ever – My children Sophie and Alexander, they always make me very happy and proud.

ER: What are you really good at doing? What is the most interesting thing you have ever done?
HP: Most humbling and rewarding experience – Caring for my Mum during her final months, we shared many special moments and memories. That experience made me realize how much I truly care for others and hope to focus on doing more in the future.