Come and see my colourful paintings

4:20pm Friday 29th August 2008

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A RENOWNED Ukrainian artist, book designer and book restorer who now lives in Worcester is displaying her creative talents at an exhibition in Malvern.

A selection of colourful and passionate paintings by Anna Yevtukh-Squire are on show at Malvern Hills Gallery in Worcester Road, Malvern, until Friday.

The artist, who has a national reputation in the Ukraine and is particularly well known in her home city of Kiev, moved to Worcester two years ago when she married her husband Matt Squire – an accountant in the city.

The couple met at a party a year before when Mrs Yevtukh-Squire was visiting the Midlands to attend a book binding course.

“I really love my country and I never thought I would be able to move. But there is no doubt that I do not have any regrets,” she said.

Mrs Yevtukh-Squire graduated from the Kiev National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in 2003 with a diploma as a book artist and illustrator.

She then taught at the academy for three years while continuing with post graduate studies. She gained her diploma in art in 2006.

She says her work since moving to Worcester has been filled with emotion and intensity because of the feelings she had about moving from her homeland.

“I have expressed more emotion in my work because it was difficult for me to move here,” she said.

She still flies back to the Ukraine about four times a year where she has customers and to see her family.

Apart from the exhibition in Malvern, she has also displayed her work at the Pitt Studio Gallery in Worcester and people can also view her paintings by logging on to anna-art.co.uk.

Her book design and restoration work can be seen at annayevtukh.co.uk.

Malvern Hills Gallery was established about eight years ago and is a co-operative run by and for local artists and crafts people.

Publicity officer Sue Wilkes said: “We have about 30 members from Malvern, Worcester and Herefordshire.

“The artists run it, exhibit and sell their work. It is really to promote local arts and crafts and give people an opportunity to sell it.

“We get a lot of local customers looking for gifts because they know they will find something different and visitors who want a souvenir of the area. We sell lots of pictures of Malvern. It is all produced by our members. Nothing is brought in.”