Born in Bristol, UK, the middle of seven children (yikes!). I attended the University of the West of England, gaining a Bacherlors Degree in Art & Social Context and a Masters Degree in Fine Art & Context. After a break from art for a significant amount of time I’m now back as a contemporary oil painting artist selling original works and prints online.
I live and work in the City of Bath and it’s a vibrant place to be. The beautiful golden facade of the classical Georgian architecture belies the sometimes worn, but still grand, interiors beyond. Contrast can be found everywhere you look: light and dark; gold and grey; somber and joyful. In my artwork I welcome this sense of contrast and juxtaposition, a brushstroke of gold to counteract a looser contrast of dark ink or paint.
Working mostly traditionally in oils and mixed-media, I adore the subtleties of colour combinations and building the layers to add depth and interest. Florals and portraiture are recurring themes as I aim to capture something fleeting in both subjects.
Inspired by artists such as Alyssa Monks, Steve Forster and Aaron Westerberg. I love their use of colour and expression to create mood.
I’m currently on a self-set 100-portraits challenge, pushing myself to explore inspiration from the classics, pop culture and self-portraits. In all my paintings I am to capture a sense of mood, a moment in time that evokes a feeling and tells a story.
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– Becky McCarthy