Bernadine just lives for her art

The flamboyant 49-year-old swaps her sweeping brush for a paint brush shortly after completing her tasks at Rotherham Borough Council’s Bailey House each morning and heads straight to an art studio in what is fast becoming known as the town centre’s arts quarter.

She admits that it’s a schedule that sees her working from 5.30am until 5pm every day, but added: “Boy, do I love it.”

The Sri Lanka-born former nurse—mum of Rotherham boxer Danny Teasdale—secured her lease on a unit in the Imperial Buildings, off Corporation Street, with the help of Rotherham Open Arts Renaissance and set about filling it with her distinctive brand of colourful art just before Christmas.

Now the ROAR team are used to seeing Bernadine working at “all hours” and have watched her blossom into one of the town’s most prolific artists.

Operations manager, Liam Stewart, said: “Bernadine is such a colourful and flamboyant character that it’s hard to believe that she balances her time here with early starts as a cleaner for the council.

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“She’s up at 4.30am each day to carry out her tasks at Bailey House and then comes here and paints right through the day. Her energy and passion for her art puts most people to shame.”

Bernadine moved into her studio shortly before Christmas following weeks spent painting in the site’s courtyard.

She explained: “I’d been painting in the outdoor market but it was freezing and I wanted to move to the Imperial Buildings because I knew that’s where the town’s artists were.

“I came up here and set up in the corner of the courtyard but it was still extremely cold.

“I was so determined to do what I was passionate about that I’d have probably worked in a blanket, hat and gloves.

“When two people decided to move out of their units they took pity on me and ROAR agreed that I could move inside.

“Getting my studio is a dream come true. ROAR have been extremely supportive. I’m finally doing what I’ve always wanted to do.”

Bernadine initially followed in her mother’s footsteps after moving to Rotherham at the age of eight, training as a nurse at Rotherham General Hospital—but she always dreamed of becoming an artist.

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Following the death of her mother in March last year, Bernadine vowed to devote more of her time to her art.

Now she paints for several hours every day and has even completed a few commissioned works. She said: “I’ll paint anything just so long as it’s bright and colourful. I believe that art should be a celebration of life.

“The only thing I have to do now is get used to handing over my paintings when I’ve finished them. They’re like my babies...”

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