DIANA ARMSTRONG
Born in 1980, the artist Diana Armstrong now lives and works in Pickering, North Yorkshire. She describes her style as 'Magical Realism', concerned with broken boundaries between the mythical and the real. Strongly influenced by spiritual and religious paintings, the works often use gold and silver leaf. The mirror-like reflection on the paint surfaces changes as the viewer walks round the painting, adding an extra element of interaction. During her time at King’s in London, Armstrong was inspired by art from the Middle Ages to the Modern period. From then on her art education primarily came from visiting the Courtauld Institute and the National Gallery where she would study the paintings on the walls, before returning home to research and experiment. Her greatest influences have been those that used traditional layering techniques such as Van Dyck, Rembrandt and GF Watts. She also looks to contemporary artists, such as Odd Nurdrum and Pam Hawkes – the latter of whom inspired her to work with metal leaf.
Swallows Return Oil and silver leaf on linen, mounted on panel 61 x 61 cm
Feathering The Nest Oil and silver leaf on linen 39 x 85 cm
The Dance Oil and silver leaf on linen 56 x 56 cm
The Tiger Who Came To Tea Oil and silver leaf on linen, mounted on panel 70 x 70 cm
Autumn’s Crown Oil and silver leaf on linen 61 x 76 cm
Selected Exhibitions
2014
2013
Jack Fine Art Edinburgh Art Fair, Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Edinburgh Jack Fine Art Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London New Lights: Art in the North Mall Galleries, London Jack Fine Art Chelsea Art Fair, London New Lights Art Prize The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle Cave of Forgotten Dreams, Helmsley Arts Centre, Helmsley, North Yorkshire New Lights Art Prize The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate Jack Fine Art Affordable Art Fair, Battersea, London
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