About Vanessa

Artist Statement

Vanessa is an oil painter, she lives and works in North Cornwall, painting the land and sea, nudes and still life. Drawing with the paint whilst observing form and perspective, Vanessa is constantly scanning for clues to create rhythm and drama within the subject and her surroundings. Vanessa loves colour and paints rapidly and spontaneously taking risks which is what keeps her returning to the canvas time and time again. Vanessa studied under highly respected artists Ron Freeborn, Annie Newnham and Neil Drury at Sunningwell School of Art, Abingdon, Oxfordshire where she attended weekly workshops in Life Drawing and Portraiture for several years.

Background. Born in 1967, Vanessa grew up in North Yorkshire, attending boarding School at Queen Margarets School, Escrick Park. Vanessa’s parents went to live overseas in West Africa when she was 12 years old, three times a year Vanessa spent her school holidays there with her brothers. Vanessa is a creative free spirit and was comfortably independent from an early age.

After finishing school with a handful of certificates, Vanessa spent a year at York Technology college on a foundation course, followed by working with a dressmaker creating ball gowns in York, going on to work for 10 years in central London at Farleys Estate Agents, marriage, three years in Tokyo, and two children. Vanessa took art classes and taught children during these times. Aged 40 and with her children in full time school, Vanessa took a second foundation course at Abingdon and Whitney Art College and then took a place on a full time degree course studying Fine Art at Reading University. Unfortunately, and due to unforeseen circumstances Vanessa was unable to complete the course. Illness prevailed and Vanessa moved to the North Cornish Coast in an effort to rebuild herself. Over the past few years Vanessa has been able to recreate her vision and submerge herself in the daily art practices she has always desired.

Vanessas art is mainly inspired by the natural world, this is often accompanied by imaginations conjured from echoes in thought and vision or in her mind's eye; finding courtship with a subject, paint and canvas an absolute challenge and a delight. Practicing in different mediums, Vanessa is always searching for ways to refine and expand her fields of expression further. Vanessa works in her studio at home and all of her work spends time in rotation in her home, she paints for herself and only sells what she adores.

Vanessa finds inspiration in the works of Pablo Picasso, Henry Matisse, Salvador Dali, Ivon Hitchens and Edgar Degas amongst others.

Vanessa has taught adults, teenagers and young children. Most notably portraiture in the classroom and landscape and seascape en plain air surroundings such as the North Cornish Coast.

Please contact Vanessa for more information, to book an appointment to see more of her work, or to discuss a commissioned piece.