Elaine Cooper was born in Lancashire & whilst her love of painting was kindled at primary school her choice of career was as a designer. Elaine made a name for herself honing her craft during many years working for some of the top UK & American textile companies. Ten years ago Elaine seized the opportunity to pursue her first love of painting.Now an established Artist Elaine creates bold, vibrant images that present snatches of real life. Her background in Design has given her the exceptional command of colour and texture used to recreate the all too human and often humorous images you see. Elaine’s characters, be they crusty old ice cream coloured shops or larger than life ladies all come from the observational sketches she makes traveling throughout the UK and Europe. Elaine says: I love the old shops and cafes that can be found in places like the Shambles in York and many other venues across the country. I want people to imagine themselves walking along those cobbled streets and narrow alleyways, smelling the flowers, hear the chatter in those cafes and to taste the sweetness of the hand made chocolates. A perfect place for my Ladies that Lunch.The appeal of Elaine’s paintings is in the exuberance & sense of fun they recreate. Her characters are always enjoying themselves to the full, a quality Elaine tries to emulate in her own life.