Anna Shutt

Early in her carer, Anna worked as a graphic artist for many publishers and companies whilst continuing to explore her own practice and interests in the Arts. Later, after graduating from West Surrey College of Art and Design (UCA) with a BA (Hons) in 1994 she has worked predominately as a mixed media painter /printmaker. Many paintings are composed with relief and sculptural elements that include collaged sections where the canvas is shaped. Paintings are mainly acrylic and mixed media, and can incorporate metal and gold leaf, particularly the abstract Urban series and small landscapes. Representation is not my main concern, but rather the undercurrent of emotions linked to the experience of shape, form, colour, and materials. Structure and surface have dominated my approach to painting over the years, and I create paintings that bridge both two and three-dimensional forms, bringing the illusionary aspect of both into play whilst allowing the language of colour and form to evoke an emotional response. The shaped sections of many of the canvases can be perceived as both concave and convex as the external light source moves across the surface of the work, emphasising the transient nature of colour and light over edge, and form, challenging the flatness of the painted surface. My involvement with printmaking has influenced many aspects of my approach to painting, especially in the making of various surfaces for printing and making stencils. Other experimental techniques have also narrowed the boundaries to the point where the two disciplines seem almost indistinct. Through my exploration of form, surface, and the dynamic relationship between painting and printmaking, I strive to create work that engages and resonates with diverse audiences.