I grew up in Germany in an artistically active and supportive family. After a full nurse’s training in Germany, I trained and worked in the operating theatres for orthopaedics at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh.
Through this work I realised how much I wanted to be creative with my hands; I entered a 3 year sculpture training at the Alanus Hochschule, Germany, and followed this with a 2 year further training to become a sculpture therapist.
In 1982 I moved to England, got married and taught drawing, graphics and sculpture at Tobias School of Art, East Grinstead. I longed to work with the individual, as I found while teaching groups that many people needed different sculptural qualities depending on their own capabilities and the questions they may have. I also longed to do my own artistic work which really had been neglected since I finished my training. So I began my own artistic work as well as teaching individuals in the Studio.
Since 1996 stone has become an integral part of my repertoire and I spend each summer working in stone in Serevezza near Carrara in Italy.
To see more of Gertraud's work please visit:
http://www.surreysculpture.org.uk/gertraudgoodwin/
19th Sept - 9th Dec
9th January - 23th March
23rd April - 6th July