About Amanda
I am a mixed media artist working in acrylics, pens, and paper. I grew up in Barbados and always wanted to be an artist, from the first moment I peeped into my grandmother’s art cupboard - I can still feel the excitement I had that day.
Art has always been my joy and anchor. I left Barbados at 13 to live in England which was a shock to my system, a far cry from the small island life I was used to.
Moving and starting again has been my life, living in 17 houses and 6 countries! Although difficult at times, It has been a privilege to observe new environments, cultures and people. The need to restart, and reconnect, has given me a super dose of empathy for those around me.
I paint what I experience and the impressions that are left with me. There is always a thread of movement and colour that runs through my work
I studied Textiles in Huddersfield and that experience and subsequent years of designing rugs has informed the textures and colours that show up in my work today.
2020 saw me kick-start my art. It was terrifying and exciting all at the same time and I haven’t looked back since. I only hope that you love what I do as much as I do!
My work expresses emotions and the joy of colour and texture capturing moments of bliss and hints of private times. I intend to create with authenticity and intuition expressed through my approach to mark-making.
Every piece is a unique part of me ready to make yours space an individual talking point.
“The modern artist is working with space and time and expressing the feelings rather than illustrating.”
My Art
My expressive work centres around loose abstracted backgrounds that draw on a place and moments frozen in time. I start with studies done quickly to grab the feelings of a place and or the people I see. They are not realistic copies of the world surrounding me. I use techniques to produce expressive textures with layers of paint, pens, pencil and collage at times. They relate to memories, spaces and types of places that have touched my soul and express emotions that cannot be put into words if they could I would be a writer! I am never happier than when I am in a chaotic mess with my materials!
That is not to say that every work is easy and makes it out of the studio. There are often challenges in solving problems to reach the place where I am satisfied. I’m in a tussle between my intentions and aim to keep each piece loose and energetic whilst pushing the boundaries of what has come before.
When it’s not working for me I have to walk away and return and respond accordingly to allow the pieces to develop in their own way. Some don’t make it and what you see is what brings me joy and reflects the energy I want to see but it has not been without a mini war.
My studio practice has developed but the experimenting started during my time as a textile designer never does.
Every piece is unique do keep in touch if you’d like to see new work.
Commissions are Welcome!
To get started I need a 50% deposit, the size of the piece and the colours that you’d like to incorporate. Also helpful to me is if you can comment on two of my images and comment on what you like or dislike about them. We can always have a call if that is simpler.
Once I finish the painting I will send you images to make sure that you are happy with the results.
Contact me to check on the current lead times (which change all the time!).