Hazel Soan

Hazel Soan was born in Woking, England, grew up in Surrey, and dreamed of being an artist from her teenage years. She launched into her artistic career straight from Art College, taking a bar maiding job at The Plough, in Downside, Cobham, to pay her rent. Within 9 months she had enough commissions from the customers that she could return to the other side of the bar, and an offer of an exhibition at a London Gallery. Hazel now has more than 25 one-woman shows to her credit and an international reputation. She has become one of Britain's most admired watercolourists, well-known through her role as an Art Expert on Channel 4's "Watercolour Challenge" and her Anglia TV series "Splash of Colour". Hazel is the author of 13 painting books and several DVD films, inspiring many with her enthusiasm for watercolour. She has studios in London and Cape Town, Africa has always been a large part of Hazel's inspiration. Her work is held in private and public collections, including the National Portrait Gallery, The Ritz Club London, BBC Television, BP Oil, major London hospitals, international hotels, finance houses and a number of Embassies.