Welcome to Dorothy Ramsay - Fine Artist in Cumbria

About my paintings

About my drawings & etchings

Learn to draw and paint in the natural beauty of the lake district

I have lived in the English Lake District for 35 years, and its landscape has become my greatest influence. Born in the North of England, I returned there the day I completed my degree at Camberwell School of Art London.

Although I spent 3 years at Findhorn and another 3 years living in Cardiff, I return back to the fells. At Camberwell under the tutelage of Michael Rothenstine I became enthralled with printmaking. The smell of inks and the excitement of lifting the paper, is endlessly fascinating.

My other influences have been the painters Winfred Nicolson, Mary Newcomb, and the Lake District painter Sheila Fell. My work starts with drawings, and photographs out side what ever the weather.

When I return to the studio these are worked on with pen and wash and may evolve in to a etching or an oil painting.

Thank you for visiting my site I have found endless inspiration from the beauty of the Lake District - and I hope you like the results you see here...

My paintings vary in price according to size, framed or not framed, and how much I like them. Prices are negotiable, and are some where between £250-£450 + postage.

The frames are made of oak or ash, and are made locally by two brothers who are real experts and live near by at Skelton.

Small paintings measure 50/40 cm ... large up to 100 cm square.

Drawings and etchings are mounted on art board for greater protection. The etchings and drawings cost around £120.

Drawings measure 28/38 cm all are on Saunders waterford paper 400gsm.

If you would like to come and be encouraged to make your own painting of the Lake District, there is a cottage available it sleeps two. The cost is £280 a week in season, in the winter months the week can be split in two, Friday till Sunday, and Monday through till Friday.

We will work round the weather and spend some part of each day drawing out side exploring lakes, mountains, and waterfalls.The rest of the day will be painting in the studio, or for you to feel free to roam.

Keswick golf course is near by for a partner who might not want to participate. I am open to visitors by appointment only, but my work can be seen at the Northern Lights Gallery.

Dorothy's paintings and etchings are not only lovely pieces of art work, in terms of the techniques employed and the obvious craft involved, but daily views of her larger paintings and smaller etchings in my home create, joy and a special moment captured.

Emily Shenton

Thank you so much for the most wonderful and exciting weekend. We both enjoyed it so much.

I am inspired..YIPPEE The etching I bought looks great..... Lynn Kirk Scotland FCA

Drawings Cockermouth

As well as providing drawings Cockermouth we are additionally able to supply drawings in Ambleside, Bowness On Windermere, Buttermere, Cartmel, Coniston, Grasmere, Hawkshead, Kendal, Keswick, Penrith, Rydal, Ulverston or Windermere. We believe that we are able to offer our customers the best drawings Cockermouth and do our best to ensure that you are completely satisfied with our company.

Straps, strikes and sanatoriums

I was born in a mining village in County Durham in 1945. Owing to the post-war baby bulge I did not start school till I was 7 years old. Friday afternoon Art was the only part of school I excelled in. My Reading and Writing classes resulted in regular caning and the leather strap; my difficulty was that I only saw the picture of the objects in my mind and never the words.

My father had wanted to go to Art College but as all his older brothers were on the great miners strike he needed to obtain paid work and so trained to become a painter and decorator. Perhaps I completed his dream and started classes at the local art gallery at the age of 10, moving to Sunderland Art College at 13.

I happened to find out 20 years later that I achieved the highest grade in the county for my O’Level art – a fact that, had I known at the time, would’ve delighted me and would certainly have helped to balance out the label of ‘ stupid’ gained in other subjects!

As there was no question of an academic life for me, having completed my O’ Levels, I attended art college full time. Disastrously, after completing my first year, I contracted T. B. And spent the next year in sanatoriums. In the first ward I was one of the few who survived – a strange way to live one’s 17th year…

Latterly I was moved to the South of England where the sanatorium offered tuition for students. Unfortunately at that time I was the last student to have T. B. And consequently had a bit of a lonely time (although very productive; painting from 6. 30 in the morning till lights out).

One Marriage, two Masters

The tutor I was allocated in the sanatorium was from Camberwell Art College. As a result I was motivated to apply there and was accepted, so instead of returning north I began a Degree in Printmaking and had a happy three years working with Michael Rothenstein and other inspiring tutors.

On the day of my 22nd birthday I returned north and got married. Within 3 months I landed a job at Sunderland Art College and within 6 months became a tutor at Newcastle Teacher Training College. There had been a lot of applicants for that job and I later learned that I got an interview as my spelling was so bad on the application form that they had me in for the laugh!!

The following 20 years are lost in a haze of bringing up 3 sons and helping to run Wetheriggs Pottery; a craft & art gallery with a museum in a listed building near Penrith.

At this point the marriage broke down and I threw myself into a Masters at Huddersfield. I had been invited onto this course due to the success of my weaving – employing five weavers we were now exporting all over the world.

Initially my MA had been based around the use of fibre optics but owing to personal circumstances of living in a small caravan with no electricity I switched my enthusiasm to hooky rugs and tapestry.

After completing my MA my life took a complete turn around. My new partner and I settled in Lancaster and both studied to be therapists. Another twenty years whizzed by! Another MA – this time a four year study of Systemic Psychotherapy/ Family Therapy (i. E. Taking into account people’s whole lives, culture and the context their network of family and friends). My highlight for this quarter of my life was to be chair of Family Therapy UK from 2007-2010.

It was at this stage that I had to re-address my perception of myself as being stupid – one cannot have two MAs and be stupid.

On growing up…

Now I am a pensioner so I must finally be grown up. I am choosing to complete my own circle by painting and drawing full time. What a joy this has been - perhaps more so for having waited so long. I spend my days drawing and photographing mainly around my house in the Lake District.

My only distraction had been a lovely local grandson and a few therapy supervisees which I continue to see for the pleasure of hearing what good work they are doing with clients. I tend to work an eight to ten hour day painting and printmaking, etchings being my current passion. Some of my attention also needs to be given to sales as it is becoming increasingly difficult to find storage space!

I do hope you enjoy what I have done so far and if you would like me to do a painting of your landscape I am happy to travel and do that for you.

Or you could come and stay in our beautiful cottage next to Blencathra and spend your mornings under my encouragement to complete your own painting of this beautiful area.