Breakaway Blue, 2021

Wendy Smith  

My paintings reflect experiences, memories and everyday 'happenings'. The colours have an emotional attachment and response to a situation or subject, often using a repeat motif relating to the subject and theme. More recent work includes working outside for inspiration, capturing through drawing, the immediacy, vastness, colours and atmosphere of a place. My paintings explore contrasts that are both emotive and as a response to the physicality of the place, represented through the use of building up colours in layers and contrasting with creating very fluid areas with more textured paint. I scratch into the surface, creating marks reminiscent of drawing into the paint.

I find inspiration exploring places that are on the edge of something, the space or gap between wild and contained, inhabited, ordered spaces in contrast to the wildness of nature. Many of my paintings are inspired by the sea, estuaries, landscape and the areas in between the land and the sea. I start with detailed sketches, exploring the colours, shapes and composition, the shapes then progress into the paintings as recurring motifs. The motif as something restrained and controlled with small details and areas of focus in sharp contrast to the expressive, free and raw painting approach. My technique is to build the paintings up in multiple layers, to give depth and to create the feeling that the paint is almost falling off the canvas to create paintings that are fresh and vibrant.

Having worked and exhibited in India and also studied for a time in Barcelona, my work has a strong colour palette that has been enhanced, influencing my colour combinations and aesthetic of the finished painting.

Education:

1995-1998 - BA Fine Art, Central St Martin's College of Art & Design, London
1997 Facultat de Belles Artes, Barcelona

Awards & Distinctions:

Residencies and awards:-
2017 - The Stass Paraskos Cyprus College of Art Residency, Lemba, Paphos
2011 - The Blue House Residency, Gokarna, Karnataka, South India
2007/2008 -Sanskriti Foundation Residency, New Delhi, India
Funded by Arts Council England Awards to Artists.
Self-initiated project to produce a body of artwork as a response to street life in Delhi and working with women in micro-textile industries finalising with exhibition in India, April 2008. Also organising workshops with 'HOPE' project for children.
Finalising with exhibitions at the British High Commissioner's Residence, New Delhi, India.
2006/2007 - Great Dixter House and Gardens Residency, Northiam, East Sussex
Evolving project studying and recording the colours of the flamboyant and exuberant planting schemes and exhibiting in The Benenden Hall, August 2008.
2005/2006 - Sanskriti Foundation Residency, New Delhi, India
Creative research project in India exploring Indian culture, materials, textiles, pattern and colour. Organised workshops with 'Mobile Creche' organisation.

Exhibitions:

Selected Solo Exhibitions:-
2017-Shell & Shingle Exhibition, Studio 4 Frames, St Leonards-on-Sea
2016-Earthly Delights, Hastings Arts Forum, St Leonards on Sea
2015-Hotel Bollaert, Lens, France (sponsored by Recreate & Medway Council)
2015-Cafe Moroc, Rochester, Kent
2013-'Reflective Moments', Elixir gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, London
2011-'Seaflowers Exhibition', Rochester, Kent. Sponsored by Medway Council and Arts Council England
2008-'Indian Pink', Nucleus Gallery, New Art Centre, Chatham, Kent. Funded by Arts Council England Awards to Artists
2008-'Blooms & Plumes', Great Dixter House and Gardens, Northiam, East Sussex
2008-'Indian Pink'. British High Commissioners's Residence, New Delhi, India.
Funded by Arts Council England Awards to Artists. Also produced two large planting plans for the residence garden.
Selected Recent Group Exhibitions:-
2019 The Bigger Picture, HAF,Hastings
2018-North Moor Exhibition, Chagford, Dartmoor, Devon
2018-Coastal Currents, The Lawn, St Leonards-on-Sea
2018-Miscellany 4, SoCo Artists Exhibition, Hastings Arts Forum
2018-Tutti Frutti, Hastings Arts Forum, Hastings
2018-Harmonious Life & Nature Exhibition, Sheraton Hotel, New Delhi (Curated by Vikram Sethi)
2017-Miscellany 3, SoCo Artists Exhibition, Hastings Arts Forum
2017-The Crown, Hastings (winner of Observer Food Monthly Awards 2017)
2017-For the Love of Lempa Exhibition, Cyprus School of Art, Lempa, Paphos
2017-SoCo Masks Exhibition, Electro Studios, St Leonards-on-Sea
2017-Coastal Currents, The Lawn, St Leonards-on-Sea
2017-Rye Society of Artists Summer Exhibition, Rye, East Sussex
2016-Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group, Lloyd's London
2016-RSM - Gatwick, Crawley (June Frickleton Arts)
2016-Coastal Currents, The Observer Building, Hastings
2015-AAF Battersea, Francis Iles Gallery