Artwork for Celia de Serra
The Keeper
River Valley
Lost River 1
Regeneration
Borderlands
Details
I make semi photo-realistic, detailed landscape drawings and paintings. Over the last 10 years or so I have focused predominantly on drawing. I make small, intimate pencil drawings, and larger scale charcoal drawings. I find that charcoal is a great medium to push around, build up layers and marks, and erase back. It’s also an excellent medium to depict the effects of light, mood and drama.
Being an artist is central to my life and who I am. I have always been passionate about the natural world and hope that my work can communciate some of my ideas about it, and advocate for its protection in these environmentally uncertain times.
During my art career I've met some fascinating, creative people and have been involved in interesting and collaborative projects along the way. The next group project I'm involved in will be exploring the Hogback Hills near Kington. These are ancient volcanos - they are Precambrian igneous rocks - and are amongst the oldest rocks in Southern Britain. In summer 2024 we will be exhibiting our Hogback Hills work at The Rodd, Presteigne. It'll be an exhibition about change and past seismic shifts set again an uncertain future, and will feature work by a good mix of local and national artists (a spin off group from The Arborealists - see below).
Through my work, and because of it, I am able to explore and respond to the natural world - particularly the incredible beauty of Wales and the Marches. I make my work in my studio as it is a very time consuming and exacting practice.
I am a landscape painter and artist who draws.
An essential part of my work is exploring new places on foot with my camera and sketchbook. I will re-visit favourite locations at different times of the year to experience changes in the weather, mood or light. I look for images and ideas that I will then edit and manipulate in my studio to come up with compositions that I hope will have 'something about them' and capture a sense of place.
I am not running workshops at the moment but have taught in the past. From time to time I am also involved in the Arborealists - a group of artists with an environmental bent. We have exhibited throughout the UK since 2013 in public spaces and museums, and to date have produced several publications based on our exhibitions.
I studied Fine Art as a foundation course at Newcastle University and then completed a combined BA Hons in English Literature and Fine Art at Exeter University in 1995. I have been working as a professional artist ever since, exhibiting my work throughout the UK in a variety of galleries, art fairs and museums. I have been commissioned to make drawings and paintings privately and for public exhibition, and a selection of my paintings are on permanent display at Yeovil and Dorchester District Hospitals under the Art in Hospitals scheme.
'Leave the Road, Take the Trails', Mrs Jones Gallery, Jan-Feb 2023
'Regeneration', Queen's Green Canopy Project, Arborealists' touring exhibition - starts April 2022
Fresh Art Fair, Cheltenham with Artshouse.co.uk - August 2021
'Run Deep', solo exhibition at The Art Stable, Dorset - June 2021
The Affordable Art Fair Online - November 2020
Made in Knucklas art trail - September 2020
Arborealists at The National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire - December 2019
The Affordable Art Fair, Battersea - October 2019
Fresh Art Fair, Ascot - September 2019
The Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead - May 2019
Fresh Art Fair, Cheltenham - April 2019
