Artist Review / / Vanessa Bowman

I am thrilled to be able to share some inspirational art and design with you every Tuesday morning as Rachael's 'Art and Creative Writer'. This week, I'm featuring the lovely paintings of Vanessa Bowman. 

Vanessa is a contemporary artist working in oils and often taking still lives as her subject matter. She graduated from Winchester School of Art with a first class honours degree in Printed Textiles in 1993 and has won many awards for her work, including the Daler Rowney Young Artist of the Year.

She has a wonderful gift for capturing pattern, texture and colour in her paintings which celebrate the 'simple beauty of everyday objects'.

Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and see you for more inspiration in 2014! Justine x

Artist Review: Vanessa Cooper

I am thrilled to be able to share some inspirational art with you every Tuesday morning as Rachael's new 'Art and Creative Writer'. This week, we're featuring the contemporary art of Vanessa Cooper.

Vanessa is a Hampshire based artist who's been exhibiting her paintings since 1987. She works mainly in oils, sometimes using gouache and sculpture in work which is often inspired by nature and family life.

I love the naive, flattened perspectives and folk art styling, along with the lovely colour choices which give such vitality and charm to this work. Have a beautiful week! Justine x

Artist Review: Nathaniel Mather

I am thrilled to be able to share some inspirational art with you every Tuesday morning as Rachael's new 'Art and Creative Writer'. This week, we're featuring the contemporary folk art of Nathaniel Mather.

Nathanial is a Californian, now living in Nashville, who studied at the California Institute of the Arts and Art Center College of Design. His paintings and illustrations have a primitive quality blended with a rich spiritual symbolism, expressing his need to process life's struggles. Horses and donkeys symbolise "the strength and beauty of God" whilst "birds and flowers represent human characteristics and emotions."

He uses water-based mediums on canvas or board and incorporates text, stamps and found objects into his work. I love the naive, almost graffiti style which contains so much devotion to his spiritual beliefs. More beautiful inspiration next week! Until next Tuesday, Justine x