Rachel Garner

During my Foundation studies at Cheltenham and a Fine Art Degree at Newcastle University (1999-2023), I became fascinated by the use of layering, light and texturing and developed an abstract style using varnish, oil and resin.

Trekking south, exhibiting in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire along the way, I finally settled in Devon in 2013 and was particularly inspired by the moors and coastline. My style moved away from pure abstraction to more semi-figurative representations, but I hope that the undercurrent of my work remains; the aim of using colour and texture to capture a sense of place and create an experience for the viewer.

Alongside my mixed media work in acrylics, oils, pastels and a more recent return to resin, I was also drawn to the human form. Initially inspired by my own children, I have enjoyed capturing intimate moments in charcoal, again hoping to capture both the subject and their immediate environment, leaving the viewer with a snapshot of a particular moment in time.