Theresa Nicholas, Corfu Artist and Writer

Theresa Nicholas first came to Corfu in 1961. If Corfu has an observer of its folklore and old customs equivalent to Dorset's Thomas Hardy, then Theresa Nicholas surely qualifies. In her art she has recorded Corfiot life as she knew it from the early days, as it used to be lived: old olive-presses, village life, women with donkeys and mules, wine cellars, buildings and architectural features, churches and belfries, chimneys, costumes and interesting characters, all sorts of fascinating old images, man-made and natural, captured before they (largely) disappeared. Theresa has followed her eye and in consequence has witnessed aspects of life in Corfu that few foreigners have been privileged to see. She started illustrating Corfu scenes soon after she arrived, but much of her work was commercial. 'I churned them out for tourists' she admits. But they gave her a means of survival until 1980, when she started doing more serious work, experimenting with mixed media compositions, as well as linocuts, monoprints, etchings and oil-paintings. She has exhibited in Corfu in 1996, 2002, and 2004 (and 2009-Ed.). Women in Metzova Church, by Theresa Nicholas (Mandouki 1963, Photo by Theresa Nicholas) Theresa has been a great walker in her day. She tells that in the early days peasants were amazed at the sight of foreigners walking: 'Me ta podhia? Dhen echis aftokinito?' (You're going on foot? Don't you have a car?) Her home and small studio near Kanoni is a true artist's garret, and it is fascinating to see her precious works, which she is reluctant to sell, hanging from every wall. We are now lucky that we can buy copies of her sketches. Corfu does not know what an artist it has in its midst. This article appeared in The Corfiot in June 2006, and was reprinted as the introduction to Corfu Sketches.