About the artist

As an older woman, I have a wealth of life experience to draw from as source material for my painting practice. I came to painting quite late in life, only recently completing an MA at Manchester Art School.

I have explored the concept of loneliness and visibility through painting everyday objects and close-up faces, my aim is to bring out the personal, political, and social issues that surround us in our everyday existence.

I work in oils. I obliterate, merge, reconstruct, and reform each layer of the painting until it feels resolved.  Through mark making and blending colour, tone, and shape I aim to enhance the reflective surfaces, light, and shade to provide a vibrancy, a theatrical edge, a presence. 

In my most recent work, I have created a series of abstract paintings inspired by my early working life as an actor/musician.  These paintings aim to challenge the viewer to create their own interpretation of what is about to or has been happening on the empty stage.

Donna Berwick