Annie Sloan facts for kids

Annie Sloan (born 19 June 1949) is a famous British artist, designer, and author. She is well-known for inventing a special type of paint called Chalk Paint. Annie also runs her own company, Annie Sloan Interiors.

Annie believes that everyone has a creative side. She wants to help people discover and use their creativity. She does this through her many books, teaching, and a network of shops around the world.

In the 1970s, Annie studied Fine Art at university. She later wrote several books about different painting styles and techniques. Her first book, The Complete Book of Decorative Paint Techniques, came out in 1988. In 1990, she created her own unique paint, Chalk Paint. Today, Annie is a top expert in paint and colour. She was even given a special award, the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), in 2023 for her work in interior design.

Early Life and Education

Annie Sloan was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1949. Her father was from Scotland, and her mother was from Fiji. Annie's father was a journalist who loved art. He helped her discover her own love for art by showing her the work of a painter named Gauguin.

Annie studied fine art for seven years. She went to Croydon College of Art and Reading School of Art. During her studies, she learned from famous artists like Terry Frost. She also found out about Charleston Farmhouse, a historic home known for its art. In 2018, Annie started working with the Charleston Trust, which she called "a dream come true."

While she was a student, Annie was part of a band called Moody and The Menstruators. The band was also known as The Moodies. They even performed with Pink Floyd once.

Today, Annie lives and works in Oxford, England, with her husband, David. They have three sons and three grandchildren. One of her sons is the musician Chad Valley.

Annie's Career

After finishing university, Annie worked as an art teacher in East London from 1973 to 1977. She also worked for Time Out magazine, helping with their theatre section. After this, Annie decided to focus on decorative painting.

Her first book, The Complete Book of Decorative Paint Techniques, was a big success in 1988. This book helped her become known as an expert in decorative painting. It also gave her chances to teach painting techniques all over the world.

Chalk Paint

Annie Sloan created her special paint, Chalk Paint, in 1990. She had spent many years researching and working with different paints and colours. She wanted a paint that could be used to create many different looks. Most importantly, she wanted a paint that was easy to use. With Chalk Paint, you don't need to sand or prepare surfaces before painting. This makes it much faster and simpler.

In 2000, Annie opened her first shop in Headington, Oxford. There, she sold her Chalk Paint, along with fabrics and furniture that she had already painted.

She has written more books about her paint and colour ideas. These include Colour Recipes for Painted Furniture and More (2013) and Room Recipes for Style and Colour (2014).

In 2021, Annie launched new paints called Annie Sloan Wall Paint and Annie Sloan Satin Paint. She also started her own magazine, The Colourist, in 2018. It comes out twice a year.

Collaborations

Annie Sloan has worked with many different groups. These include Oxfam, the Charleston Trust, ActionAid, Create Academy, and The RHS. She has helped them with fundraising and creative projects.

As mentioned before, Annie was given the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) award in 2023. This was to recognize her important contributions to interior design.