Born in London, England, raised in Jamaica, West Indies CHANDIS has always been inspired to create. Her main sources from which she receives her inspiration are Jamaica, her grand mother Sonetha and her mother Sajoya (Sandra Joy Alcott). Along the way many faces and places have added to that inspiration and helped shape her into the artist she is today.
She sold her first piece of art at ten years old and began writing seriously in high school (St. Hugh's High) when she and a mutual friend used to write mini novels and circulate them through out the school securing a steady fan base. Drawing and painting however captured her soul as the main vehicle for her expression and many days CHANDIS (aka Natalie Chandis Beckford) would be found skipping classes by being the only girl hidden away in the art room drawing and daydreaming to her heart's content, try as they might teachers found it hard to quell this rebellious nature from an otherwise quiet student.
This rebellion has led CHANDIS to be the second half of the mother/daughter poetry ensemble - PUM PUM POSSE - which is proving to be the perfect avenue for her to merge both her visual, writen and performing aspects harmoniously. |
