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Expressive, abstract mixed media art by Rachel James

Rachel creates expressive, vibrant, energetic paintings, experimenting with acrylic paint working quickly and intuitively.

In her recent work she is enjoying exploring a more abstract, playful approach which focuses on movement, texture and mark-making with her strong style and vibrant colour pops.

Prior to this, her paintings incorporating acrylics, texture and collage media into each layer of her paintings; vintage books, newspapers, tissue paper, printing, fabric, along with acrylic inks, paints and mediums to create depth and texture. She created her own printed papers, drawing with collage and acrylic ink until the colours vibrated.

Inspiration for her collage collection came from the seasons and the bright, bold colours in her garden and the local Cambridgeshire fenland countryside. Rachel often dreams about a painting and wakes up with a creative challenge solved.

She loves the work of Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, John Piper and expressionism. Inspiration also comes from the materials themselves, acrylic is a really versatile medium and she enjoys experimenting with it.

Rachel works from her garden studio at The Old School House in a South Cambridgeshire village.

Rachel studied Surface Pattern Design and Textile Design at art colleges in West Yorkshire and Nottingham. On leaving college she worked as a freelance artist, then for a fashion manufacturing company before embarking on a twenty+ year career in marketing. Between 2010-2016 she ran her own marketing business for clients in universities, charities and social enterprises. In 2019 she began painting and selling her paintings locally, on social media and by word of mouth.

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