Alison Orchard

I am greatly inspired by nature and by the process of painting. I trained at Epsom School of Art & Design and University of Westminster, Harrow (B.A. hons), initially working as a designer & illustrator, before becoming a professional fine artist. I paint and sketch directly from the landscape, both at home on the Surrey/Hampshire border and along the coast; these initial experiences inspire the larger, layered paintings created in my studio. Studying the changing landscapes, the sketched lines on the sand, cloud movements, and the tidal shift, allows me to absorb, simplify and abstract these stories into my paintings. My curiosity with layered surfaces and marks has led me to explore various media, painting with oils, acrylics or encaustic wax, often combined with metal filings, marble dust or coloured charcoal. My painting process is very gestural and the resulting work has a vitality that translates directly from the energy of the brushstrokes. My work now has a growing following and has been shown at various prominent art fairs, with exhibitions in London; South East England, Canada, Guernsey & Portugal, including at The Royal College of Art, The V&A museum & The Society of Women Artists, London. In 2012, I was selected for inclusion in Who's Who in Art and in 2014 was accredited as a Golden Artist Educator. My studio & gallery at Applegarth Farm is open all year round for visitors - check my website for details.