Best Foote forward for artist (From Penarth Times)

Best Foote forward for artist

A PENARTH artist is winning widespread recognition for her distinctive and colourful designs to brighten up homes and public spaces.

Judy Foote specialises in using self-adhesive vinyl and acrylic sheet to produce her unique designs. Her portfolio includes pieces for homes, signage and public art.

Judy has completed many different commissions for hospitals in England and Wales. In 2004 she won first prize (UK and Ireland) in the MACtac Worldwide Awards.

This was for the design and execution of a seasonal landscape at the women's entrance to The John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

In addition to her vinyl commissions, Judy Foote is an accomplished lighting designer. Her lights are constructed from transparent and fluorescent acrylic sheet and are wall mounted or free standing.

Judy said: "My shadow lamps work on the principle of light bouncing off the silver capped bulbs and projecting the lamp's shadow on the wall behind.

"This creates a striking effect and an ambient light. The coloured designs are made from a combination of coloured acrylic sheet and vinyl.

"I have a wide experience of using coloured acrylic sheet. I am skilled in the sawing, filing and forming the shapes while they are hot.

"The vibrancy of this material is enhanced by the use of artificial light which has led to the development of a range of different lighting designs. Vinyl is an ideal material for windows at home."

"It is hard wearing, weather proof and light fast, providing privacy, decoration and colour to any room.

"Primarily used by the sign writing industry, vinyl is a self adhesive, paper thin plastic that can be cut and layered into more or less any shape and colour."

Judy Foote has won commissions for artwork at the Children's Hospital for Wales, Cardiff, the Wexham Park Hospital in Slough, vinyl window designs for the Delivery Suite at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and a mural in Cardiff city centre, commissioned by Cardiff City Council.