My work is a response to the joy of experiencing a landscape; I am more preoccupied by how it feels to be within a landscape rather than depicting a realistic representation. In painting an emotive response I aim to try and create quite free and loose compositions, full of colour and gestural, expressive marks. The juxtaposition of bold brushstrokes with delicate lines is a continual source of interest for me. The fields and coastline of South West England are the landscape of my home and childhood, and through painting I reconnect with this small but beautiful slice of the world. Through my paintings, I seek to express the pleasure of being outside and celebrate the small joys of day to day life.
Polly studied Art History at the University of St Andrews (2012) and painted enthusiastically alongside attending school and university, as well as in her former life as a primary school teacher. She began selling her work in 2021 and in 2022 made painting her sole occupation. Her paintings are now collected worldwide and she has quickly gained representation by a handful of select UK galleries.
Exhibitions & Galleries
Current:
2024 Domenica Marland, London
2024 Silson Contemporary, Harrogate
2024 The Paragon Gallery, Cheltenham
Previous:
The Gallery at Green and Stone, London. Works on Paper 2024, January 2024
The Russell Gallery, London. Christmas Show, December 2023 - January 2024
Style Your Spaces, Edinburgh. November Art Drop 2023
Open Studio, Bristol. October 2023
The Other Art Fair, London. October 2023
Chelsea Arts Society 74th Annual Summer Exhibition, London. June 2023. WINNER of the Lady Hamlyn Award
The Russell Gallery, London. Summer Show, June 2023
The Paragon Gallery, Cheltenham. 10 Year Anniversary show, summer 2023
Limekiln Gallery, Calstock, Cornwall. March - June 2023
Bocabar, Bristol. Autumn Show September – November 2022
The Square Club, Bristol. Solo show, May – August 2022
The Other Art Fair, London. October 2021
The Art Cohort, Bath. Solo show, September 2021
The Art Cohort, Bath. Summer Open Show, August 2021
Education:
Kingston University, PGCE, 2014 - 2015
University of St Andrews, Art History (2:1) 2008 – 2012
Exeter School 2001 – 2008
Other professional experience:
Primary School Teacher in both London and Bristol between 2015 and 2022.