Artist story - Elizabeth Grant

Tea ceremony

Artist spotlight Elizabeth Grant

interview by Karolina Barnes, photography provided by Elizabeth Grant

Coming onto the art scene only three years ago, Elizabeth Grant has already been commissioned to create work for WWF, RSPB and MAN Trucks with other projects in the pipeline.

Always passionate about creativity and art from an early age, she is a self-taught artist who uses a variety of techniques in her works, capturing the feeling and essence of her subject.

Here I chat with Elizabeth about her journey from working in her husband's business to her new found career in the art world.

Pink Clouds

When did you realise you have a passion for art?

I have always had a passion for creativity and art from such a young age. I was constantly painting, drawing and sketching as a child filling our home with what I thought were masterpieces!

My art career did not start for me really until about 3 years ago, a late bloomer one might say. With a very busy career working in my husband’s business and children, I did not have the time for myself, and my art. Satisfying my creative needs with various projects, for instance, my daughter's huge dance show every two years, helping with costumes and sets or organising parties, wedding receptions and charity events.

Then, when I could step down from my role in the company, I thought, right, this is my time, something for me, so here I am. I have grown as an artist with many sales under my belt, selected for amazing Art Fairs and have had the opportunity to have worked on commissions and wonderfully exciting collaborations. To date, I have worked with WWF, RSPB and MAN Trucks with other projects in the pipeline, too. It is a very exciting time.

One thing, which is quite unusual about you, is that your artwork is quite varied, from abstract to animal and glamour art. How would you describe your style and what is the common thread throughout your work?

I have never been confined to one subject, preferring to vary my media to suit my project. The subject matter of each body of work determines the materials and the forms of the work. I mainly work in acrylics and have used resin in a great deal of my pieces and of late have delved into the world of watercolour, which I am loving by the way. It is very unforgiving and difficult to work with especially on a large scale but the end results are wonderful. Each project often consists of multiple works, often in a range of different media, grouped around specific themes and meanings. During research and production, new areas of interest arise and lead to the next body of work.

I am not one for following trends with my art or in my personal life. I paint with passion and I have to love the subject too, it all has to come from within. And of course, always wanting to be an individual!

I think my works stand apart from others as I purposefully make it different to what is on offer. I love to explore other styles and techniques. I allow myself the freedom to play and create like a child. This helps me to keep an open mind to new possibilities and new creations. I see a great deal of dark and depressing art, messy abstracts and single dots on huge canvases, well, this is not for me at all. I think of my work as the colour for the soul. I start each piece with an image in my head, always having a vision of how I want it to look, very rarely painting or drawing practice studies. I like it to evolve and change as I pour or paint with my vision in mind.

I seek to convince the viewer to engage in conversation and to prompt an emotional reaction. I want to take you on a journey with my work with the infusion of beauty, colour, harmony and intrigue; I hope that potential clients will find that original piece that will meet their artistic sensibilities. I want the owner to fall in love and enjoy my art for many years to come.

We’ve noticed your stunning collaboration with WWF. Can you tell us how it came about and what was the brief?

My biggest success to date was being commissioned by the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) to paint six animals for various projects. They saw my work and loved my style (my loose watercolour style that I had painted many animals in). It all came about by pure chance; I had let a colleague of mine use one of my images for a presentation he was giving to the WWF for a new product they were launching for a state of the art re-usable stainless steel water bottle. They absolutely loved the Ice Bottle but then went on to say we love this artwork, who is the artist? The rest, as they say, is history. It was so exciting, going along to their head office for my meeting, discussing my art and then being told yes, we would love you go ahead, a truly wonderful moment in my career!

They wanted six animals that were going to be printed on the new stainless steel bottle Ice Bottle they were launching in their shop just in time for Christmas. I was given free rein with colours and composition. I am happy to say that they all sold out!

This was a huge wow moment in my career. I think as an artist getting a commission like this is a dream come true. The WWF is so high profile and it is a great job to have on my CV. I feel so humbled to have been able to help save these magnificent endangered animals in my small way. I have now been approached by the WWF in two other countries to use my images.

Where do you find your inspiration / have you got mentors / other artists you look up to?

My inspiration truly can come from anywhere. The world around me inspires me, nature plays a huge part in my work as well as the colours of everyday life, the seasons, people, capturing the pinpoints of light in a sun setting night sky, the deep shades of blue where the sea falls into an ocean chasm or the feeling of movement from a flowing river, the drape of a piece of material or clothing and of late, my fascination and interest in Asia, I think this is ingrained in me with my Far Eastern roots, my mother was born in Shanghai so I am always looking to that part of the world for a huge amount of my inspiration, especially the Geishas and Kimonos, both intriguing and beautiful. I want the viewer to feel, that if they touched the kimono, they would feel the silk and sense the serenity and mystery of the Geisha.

“This was a huge wow moment in my career. I think as an artist, getting a commission like this is a dream come true.”

Pas De Deux

With regards to mentors and other artists I look up to, I find that I get a huge deal of inspiration from my artist friends I have made since I began my journey. I am constantly in touch with many of them and as well as exchanging techniques, advice and words of encouragement we also meet at Exhibitions and Art Fairs. As for artists that inspire, there are many, Monet is one of my classic favourites for his beautiful use of colour and Degas as I just love his paintings of dancers, the beauty and movement captured by the artist to me is perfect and maybe I am drawn to him as my daughter is a ballet teacher. Bradley Theodore is another, as his bold use of colour is so striking! And lastly, Alexandra Gallagher, the composition of her pieces is so intriguing as I love her attention to detail, probably as I am also a detail freak myself!

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