Pauline's narrow escape (From Stroud News and Journal)

Pauline's narrow escape

AN ARTIST who is fascinated by fire narrowly escaped death after a blaze ripped through her farm home in Slad this week.

Fire has inspired much of artist Pauline Forster's work and her recent exhibition, London's Burning displayed a variety of burnt materials.

But on Thursday she woke to find her bedroom full of smoke and her son's bedroom alight on the floor below.

Fortunately her son Rupert, 16, was sleeping at a friends house but most of his possessions were destroyed in the fire.

"A storage heater in the child's bedroom caught fire and there was a huge old sofa next to it stuffed with horse hair and straw," said Ms Forster.

"I was woken up with thick black smoke billowing everywhere, I was freaked out to be honest, I didn't have time to think.

"I just reacted to the situation - I threw a couple of buckets of water in the direction of the room that was on fire but it didn't seem to be doing anything and the smoke was really thick so I went outside to wait for the fire brigade.

"I was only wrapped in a towel because I didn't have time to get dressed." Fireman unaware of Ms Forster's work removed a burnt loaf of bread exhibit from the fire damaged house.

And now Ms Forster, whose exhibitions have included a burnt Sunday roast with carbonised chicken and vegetables will use parts of her fire-damaged home in future work.

"I am going to sort through the pile of burnt stuff the fireman left outside the house, there will definitely be bits I can use."

"I'm going to keep a lot of the stuff and use if for my art," said Ms Forster.

"I know it sounds odd but I do think burnt things look quite beautiful.