Estelle Jourd

Estelle's work is inspired by the sea and sky of the North Kent coast where she has lived for most of her life. Having spent many happy hours in boats and beach huts – swimming and sailing – she has experienced at first hand the sea and its changing moods and seasons. Inspired by her emotional response to the elements, she paints intuitively in her studio from her experience and memories. Working in oil on wood and canvas with a palette knife, the paintings evolve over a period of time, building up layers of painting until the history of marks and colours create the desired texture and form. Estelle exhibits extensively locally and has also shown her work in London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Dublin and Etaples in France. An annual residency in Cape Cornwall, with its wild and rocky coastline, provides her with an interesting contrast to Kent's flat land and soft greys.