The Wigtown Daily: Full Interview with Lisa Hooper

Tell us a bit about your job

Being an artist isn't all about art! One minute you are printing, then you might be framing for an exhibition or updating your website or Facebook page. As a self-employed person you are responsible for the accounts, the marketing, the purchasing and the forward planning. The creative time for me falls mainly in the winter when things are quieter. Then it's the best job in the world. 

How does your first career as a conservationist translate to your current career as an artist?

My love of the natural world was what drew me into my first career with the Countryside Commission and the same thread now provides the inspiration for my artwork. So there is a kind of continuity there. 

What drew you to the landscape of Dumfries and Galloway?

Although I am from a southern English suburban background I lived in Mid Wales for a couple of years in the 1990s and in fact there are some similarities between there and Galloway. The unimproved, rough pastures, the beautiful coastal scenery and the Solway itself with its enormous bird interest were all factors, although I also found the built environment charming.

What are you looking forward to at the festival?

It's always great to see Wigtown buzzing with excitement during the Festival. There seems to be a developing connection with the visual arts too, which is good to see as the two things (art and literature) complement one another. In this case, more is definitely better!

See more of Lisa's intricate wildlife prints at http://hoopoeprints.co.uk