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Wilma world

London Ballydavid Guéthary

Painter Photographer Neo Naturist Surf Mama since 1980

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PAINTING

Painting Galleries going back to the 1980s, from London to Oaxaca, Ballydavid, Biarritz and back again.

Starting with My Life in 10 paintings and going through the eras of my life, from earth mother to Surf Mama. A visual autobiography made in studios, on the road, on boats, in vans, the life story of a vagabond artist.

A brightly coloured  oil painting showing a waomn dressed in ornate clothing holding a palette with images of other artworks behind, and a glass of wine in one hand

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NEO NATURISTS

The neo Naturists was started by Wilma Johnson and Christine and Jennifer Binnie in 1980. When we got out the body paint and started experimenting we couldn't have imagined we'd end up on stage at The Royal Opera House, the tate Gallery and the Globe Theatre in the nude. Body painted and body positive since 1980, we're still fighting for women to have agency over their own bodies, making amazing art and having a laugh 46 years later

A photo graph of a naked woman in body paint and a fur fabric coat in the British museum in front of the carved head of a pharoah in the british museum

03

SURF MAMA

After a life of traveling painting and performing with the infamous Neo Naturists Wilma ended up in an isolated irish fishing village playing earth mother to her three children. Then she had a revelation on the westernmost beach in Europe - she wanted to become a surfer.

She didn't let the fact that she was 42 and had never done any sport in her life stand in her way. She moved to Biarritz, swapped a surfboard for a painting and paddled out into the Bay of Biscay.....

'If you think appearing on stage in body paint is scary you should try paddling out to Guéthary in a 2 metre swell' 

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The front cover of the hardback illustrated edition of the book Surf Mama

ABOUT ME

Welcome to Wilma World

Life and times of a 66 year old artist,  from London to Oaxaca, Dingle Biarritz and back again. Artist, mother, performer, surfer, traveler, tourist, writer, dog lover, body positive nudity advocate.

🌈✨🎭

Wilma Johnson standing in front of agraffittied wall with the words Born To Paint behind her

EVENTS

News of upcoming events performances, sales and publications.

See what's going on in Wilma World, don't miss out ........

Image: Neo Naturists, Wapping Beach 1982 ©Neo Naturist Archive

PHOTOS

COMING SOON

Photos from Wilma World, on the road, on the beach, in the studio in the bar, featuring body paint, beaches and my beautiful people.....

Just never tell me to 'put my camera away and enjoy the moment'. I will not enjoy the moment if you don't let me get the shot first, ask my kids.....

Photo : Flaneuse Internationale on her way out......

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A beautiful young woman in a red fur fabric coat standing in front of a purple mural ( colour photo)

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EXHIBITIONISM

Pick n Mix of selected shows over the years, most prestigious, weirdest, ones I've been most proud of .....or just ones that I still have photos of after losing a lot of my archives through a combination of fire, flood, and my vagabond life style.

A Neo Naturist performance - a woman in body paint in front of a draped blue canvas eats a peanut from a suspended bowl ( colour photo)

SHOP

COMING SOON

Wilma World Shop coming to you soon, merch, originals, limited editions, in the meantime check events for upcoming sales .........

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