Born into an artistic and theatrical family in 1943, Liz has been painting and drawing all her life.  She spent an unconventional childhood living in St. James's Palace, where her father was a member of the Royal Household.  After studying art to A level at school, she worked for four years at the Natural History Museum where her duties included illustrating the publications and lectures, of zoologists researching there.  This was followed by several years of part time study at various colleges and with a number of eminent artists including Edward Wesson.

After qualifying as an Adult Education tutor in 1979 Liz followed a successful career teaching weekly classes in drawing, watercolours and mixed media for Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire County Councils. Liz retired in 2003 to concentrate on a busy schedule demonstrating to Art Societies throughout the country and running an annual series of workshops at the Basingstoke Canal Centre, Mytchett, Surrey.  She also teaches residential courses at Dedham Hall near Colchester.  In recent years her unique and humorous style of teaching has been recorded on video, bringing her to an even wider audience.  In addition, Liz is a well-known authority on artists' materials having spent nine years helping to run the art shop in Camberley, that her husband Gerry Seward now owns.

Over the years Liz has exhibited widely with a number of galleries throughout the South of England and in London with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour at Mall Galleries and The Society of Women Artists at Westminster Galleries.  Liz's work is held in many collections both public and private at home and abroad.  She was elected to membership of The Society of Women Artists in 1993, and to full membership of The Society of Floral Painters in 2000.  She has a widespread reputation for still life, floral, and landscape paintings a selection of which have been reproduced as greetings cards and prints by major companies.  She has also contributed to several books including 'The Artists Sketchbook' and 'Watercolour Plus' and writes regular articles for 'The Artist' magazine.  Her main inspirations are light, colour, and the heathland landscape around her home in Lightwater Surrey.  She paints and experiments in all the water-based media, always encouraging her students to do the same.

Guildford House Gallery
155 High Street
Guildford
Surrey
GU1 3AJ

Tel: 01483 444740
Fax: 01483 444742
Email: guildfordhouse@guildford.gov.uk