ALIX BAKER PCAFAS NAPA UA
Through her contemporary impressionist paintings, in oil, acrylic, gouache or watercolour, Alix seeks to tell a story that continues beyond the confines of the canvas, prompting the imagination of the viewer.
Her strong use of colour leans towards what some call “a touch of the Scottish Colourists”, but may be more due to having had to work in bad light in any available corner of the many houses she has lived in!
Her work, military and ‘civilian’, is held in collections around the world and in many museums. She has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad.
Work in Public Collections - a selection
Many military museums throughout UK
Imperial War Museum (HMS Belfast)
National Army Museum
Oman government buildings
The Anne S.K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University USA
UK armed forces establishments
Alix lives in Hampshire and exhibits in national and local exhibitions and has two sides to her art - ‘civilian' and military.
After attending art college in London she had various jobs, including briefly at No.10, before doing what she had intended to do since childhood: to work in intelligence. This was in her DNA having strong connections on her mother’s side going back a very long way!
The military side - While serving abroad, she received military commissions and eventually Alix decided to leave, married an Army officer, had a family, lived and travelled abroad and built up her military painting side becoming collected worldwide by museums, armed forces units and individuals and writing articles on the evolution of military dress for international militaria publications. Information regarding past commissions can be supplied on request. Nowadays she tends to paint the occasional military caricature but is still open to other types of commissions. Some of her paintings are owned by members of Royal families at home and abroad.
Her family were very fortunate to live in Oman and she received a commission from HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said for a very large series of paintings of his armed forces, household troops and police which hang in public buildings in the country.
The civilian side - Alix had the honour to chair the Armed Forces Art Society for six years - the first non-military and first woman to do so. Alix has also served on the committee of several national and local art societies.
She has been the subject of study by GCSE and A Level students on several occasions and enjoys mentoring young artists. She has written articles on the pursuit of painting as a profession or hobby.
Several websites are illustrated by her pictures - not always with her permission!
Last but far from least: Alix is married to Tom Bremridge and has 2 very artistic sons, Henry and Will Bremridge.
"I find it very hard to sum up in a few words my art, styles and inspiration, my interpretation of light and colour. All I know is that, like many artists, I get a physical craving, particularly when it’s impossible to access time or art materials. I carry a notebook everywhere, jotting down thoughts, notes on colours, light direction, random ideas etc. I’m for ever looking up at the many colours to be found in clouds! Having devoted so many years to work that was more illustrative (my military side), I am always trying to loosen up and perhaps that is why my style is constantly evolving. Inspiration is all around and I rather wish I had spent more years developing my non-military side - fewer committee meetings for a start!
I believe there is a genetic link to some of the subjects I have painted over the years. Many ancestors were in the armed services, some were artists, mountaineers, national sportsmen and one grandfather, also an artist, built his own racing yachts. So I should not be surprised at what I choose to paint now and in the future......! "
