Born in Scotland, Valerie Bloomfield studied in Glasgow and moved to Jamaica as a young artist. She began to exhibit regularly in group exhibitions and quickly established a name for herself because of her unerring sense of realism and ability to capture likeness. During the 1970s she became one of Jamaica's most sought after portrait painters, particularly amongst Jamaica's upper class elites. But her work was most endearing when she was painting artists and friends such as Barrington Watson, Kofi Kayiga and John Maxwell. These works have become important historical records of that artistic milieu.Despite her academic training, Bloomfield's work was never traditional. Rather, she brought a sense of energy and verve to her work that gave it a sense of modernity appropriate to the that era. In addition, her use of colour, particularly her capturing of light in pastel shades gave her work a characteristic sense of caribbeaness.Above all else, Bloomfield was an inspiring teacher, motivating a generation of young women whom she taught at Wolmer's Girls School to pursue art as a profession rather than a pastime. As a result, her work and evidence of her work can be found in numerous public and private collections in Jamaica. Bloomfield currently lives and works in Florida, USA, but occasionally exhibits in Jamaica.
Jamaican Artist