Painter, photographer & writer Patricia Aithie has twenty-five years experience of living and travelling in the Middle and Far East and beyond.  She specialises in travel, culture and faith. She is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, elected a fellow of The Royal Geographical Society and awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 1993 for 'Travel Writing and Biography' related to Southern Arabia.

Born in Cardiff in 1957, Patricia studied at Cardiff High School where she concentrated on the visual arts, scripture and Greek and Latin Literature in translation, during the sixth form.  She was also a member of the Literary and Debating Society, co-organiser of the Photographic Society and Head Girl.  Studying 'English Art & Architecture' during the summer of 1976 at Villiers Park, Oxford Patricia then went on to study at Cardiff and Canterbury Colleges of Art 1977-80 where she gained a 2:1 BA Hons in Fine Art Painting, Etching, Lithograph and Woodblock Printing, Photography, Sculpture and Art History, majoring in Painting & Art History - 1st Prize in Drawing at Degree Show & 1st with Commendation in The History of Art, Canterbury College of Art.

Patricia has written on art, culture and travel for many years and has exhibited her painting and photography internationally, often working with artists from different cultures sometimes writing art catalogues and lecturing.  She led courses on the History of World Art and Culture in the United Arab Emirates and has lectured at The Royal Institute of British Architects, London.  She has written and photographed a number of books mostly on art and culture and helped to organise festivals in the UK and Arabia.

Her work is also in private and public collections around the world including the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, BBC Wales, Bank Duta Indonesia, Royal Family of Abu Dhabi (Where I lived for four years)  many Private Collections, including personnel of the Embassies of The United States and Argentina.

Patricia has served on many committees including The Arts Council of Wales (five years) and Ffotogallery where she was chair, Cardiff Civic Society, Pontcanna Conservation Society and Cardiff City Planning Committees due to her interest in architecture and has initiated, advised and supported cultural festivals and centres helping to organise exhibitions.

 

E-mail: ffotograff@easynet.co.uk