Ella is an artist and writer living below the South Downs.
She began her reading journey in the back of a Wolsey 1300, lying on the parcelshelf while her Mum and Dad drove from Tehran to Helsinki. This was the beginning of a lifelong love of literature and colour. She learnt to read at the same time that she picked up a brush, and her twin passions have gone hand in hand over the years. Ella studied English Literature at Cambridge University, where she met her friend Susan Elderkin, and they first began to prescribe novels to each other. Meanwhile, Ella continued to paint, having been taught at Marlborough College by Robin Child ( father of Lauren Child, Children's Laureate). After her degree at Cambridge, she took a degree in Fine Art at University of East London. During this degree, Ella worked as Artist in Residence at Pentonville Prison, and Friends School, Saffron Walden. She then went on to be artist in residence at Queenswood School, Hertfordshire.
Since then Ella has worked simltaneously as an artist and bibliotherapist, absorbing books intravenously mostly by ear, but also quite alot by eye. Her paintings take on the colours of the books she listens to, and are inspired by the way light moves in air.
ellaberthoud@gmail.com
07801 160820