Siobhan Purdy

Siobhan’s work is created from memories, experience and family history. Painting in oils on canvas or board her surfaces build up a history to give a sense of vulnerability on the surface with a feeling of strength underneath, revealing the history of the earlier layers. Sometimes areas of the paint have a crayon-like effect, which enhances the childlike qualities.

Subject matter and narrative are important to Siobhan: she likes to paint people, particularly children and animals, and is constantly scanning everyday images looking for the one that makes a great painting. She then mentally stores the image and in time it will re-emerge natural allowing her to relive the experience through painting. Siobhan often uses animal features combined with human figures to enhance the expression of character and to create an element of extended reality, emphasising the dreamy qualities of her work.