Artist Statement
I cannot remember a time when creating images with paint didn't captivate me. The ability to bring an image to life using such a simple substance motivates me to such a degree that I will never stop striving to improve my technique. It is my goal to be able to produce the images I see in my mind's eye to perfection, reflecting both a persistence of practice and a successful imagining of my concepts.
I am heavily influenced by the golden light and lush environs of northern California. I have always been an avid reader of fantasy literature. As a child I found myself captivated by Watership down and Redwall.This early influence can still be seen today in my heartfelt and emotive depiction of animals. Combine this fascination with an interest in the interface between the natural world and the manmade environment, and you can begin to peek into a hidden way of life. One that is outside humanity but inextricably connected to it. Some views are a utopian landscape, where the beings have found their own freedom and agency. Others are a dystopian future, where man dominates.
My work has always been dedicated to nature. A focus on landscape painting during my postgraduate time gradually evolved into a more honed depiction of animals and plants. A fascination with the medium of oil painting has pushed me to really explore what can be achieved with this traditional medium. Coming from an untraditional masters education, where technical theory was not even touched upon, I have chosen to explore how the medium can be applied in both a traditional and innovative manner. This has been a slow process of discovery. My most recent works hope to combine the avant-garde nature of my education and the long history of painting with oils.
An example of my painting can be found in the UK government art collection and is currently on display in one of their worldwide embassies.
I cannot remember a time when creating images with paint didn't captivate me. The ability to bring an image to life using such a simple substance motivates me to such a degree that I will never stop striving to improve my technique. It is my goal to be able to produce the images I see in my mind's eye to perfection, reflecting both a persistence of practice and a successful imagining of my concepts.
I am heavily influenced by the golden light and lush environs of northern California. I have always been an avid reader of fantasy literature. As a child I found myself captivated by Watership down and Redwall.This early influence can still be seen today in my heartfelt and emotive depiction of animals. Combine this fascination with an interest in the interface between the natural world and the manmade environment, and you can begin to peek into a hidden way of life. One that is outside humanity but inextricably connected to it. Some views are a utopian landscape, where the beings have found their own freedom and agency. Others are a dystopian future, where man dominates.
My work has always been dedicated to nature. A focus on landscape painting during my postgraduate time gradually evolved into a more honed depiction of animals and plants. A fascination with the medium of oil painting has pushed me to really explore what can be achieved with this traditional medium. Coming from an untraditional masters education, where technical theory was not even touched upon, I have chosen to explore how the medium can be applied in both a traditional and innovative manner. This has been a slow process of discovery. My most recent works hope to combine the avant-garde nature of my education and the long history of painting with oils.
An example of my painting can be found in the UK government art collection and is currently on display in one of their worldwide embassies.
Biography
Rhea was born in Reading, UK, in 1983. An early passion for painting and drawing characters from the novels she enjoyed, and animals she encountered, was nurtured by her parents. They willingly purchased books and photography equipment to feed a young girls imagination and kept a cheery countenance when dragged around one zoo and duck pond after another. This encouragement lead Rhea to specialize in art at an early age and to spend eight years in full time education, studying the practice of image making. She found time between programs to become an Artist in Residence at a private school which gave her the confidence to pursue a Masters in painting. Once Rhea graduated she spent three years working as an artist in London and had work acquired by the UK Government Art Collection. In 2011 she moved to California to continue her painting career. She has exhibited across the globe, including China, the USA, New Zealand and the UK.
Rhea was born in Reading, UK, in 1983. An early passion for painting and drawing characters from the novels she enjoyed, and animals she encountered, was nurtured by her parents. They willingly purchased books and photography equipment to feed a young girls imagination and kept a cheery countenance when dragged around one zoo and duck pond after another. This encouragement lead Rhea to specialize in art at an early age and to spend eight years in full time education, studying the practice of image making. She found time between programs to become an Artist in Residence at a private school which gave her the confidence to pursue a Masters in painting. Once Rhea graduated she spent three years working as an artist in London and had work acquired by the UK Government Art Collection. In 2011 she moved to California to continue her painting career. She has exhibited across the globe, including China, the USA, New Zealand and the UK.