Aries Key Chain by Linda Ravenscroft. Aries (March 21- April 19) The sign of the Ram. The balance of independence and new growth, in learning to discover things for yourself, and about yourself. There is often the need to adjust to the influence and needs of others--through inspired patience.

Artist Bio
Linda Ravenscroft Background & History I was born in Cheshire and have always drawn and painted since I can remember. My mother once told me that when I was two years old I tried to paint with my glass of milk, but luckily she rescued it in time. I had a wonderful childhood enjoying the beautiful Cheshire countryside. My parents taught me about wildlife and nature and we spent many happy hours looking for faeries and Indians in the woods. My mother wrote poetry and my father told me many strange tales how the leopard got his spots and the robin his red breast; tales from history, the plight of the North American Indians, the Incas and the Aztecs, some of which he would make up by himself. My imagination would run wild. I wasn’t a very happy child in my early years at school as I was a plain Jane and was often picked upon. As a result of this I withdrew into myself and often sat and daydreamed during class, only coming to life when we did painting and crafts. I always carried a sketchbook and drew pictures of anything and everything, but mostly I would make up stories and draw them. In the stories I was the princess I could be beautiful, I could be strong and I could kill the dragon if I wished. It was a wonderful way to escape. When I went on to High School things improved and I returned to reality. I did well at school and after my O-levels in 1998 I went to the London Road School of Art. It was a dream come true as I could paint and draw all day long. I attended this heavenly place for only 12 months after obtaining an A-level in Fine Art. Unfortunately due to personal reasons I had to give up my art education. I continued to paint in my spare time, selling the occasional painting to family and friends. I met John, my husband to be, in 1983 and he encouraged me to sell my paintings through local galleries, often physically pushing me and my work through the doors of these hallowed places. During this time I was working full-time as a receptionist for a local firm. Luckily my employer allowed me to sketch during office hours as long as it didn t affect my work he even bought some of my paintings. In 1993 my daughter Vivien was born, sadly she was born with a serious hip defect and required many months of hospital treatment and operations. I had to give up my plan to return to work so that I could be with her during this time. Money at this time was short and I knew that I had to make a living in some way. So I began to paint from home and started selling my work through local craft fairs. I later rented a room at the Arts and Antique Centre in Knutsford. I made many friends here, whom still enquire after my work. It was during this time that I realised that I needed a much wider audience to see my work and so plucked up the courage to show my work to art publishers Washington Green and the rest they say is history&. the best I hope is yet to come.