I’m always seeking to experiment, play around and move forward.
Understanding an artist’s journey offers a deeper appreciation of their work, the influences, decisions, and passions that shape their creative path…
For Fiona, art is as much about emotion as it is about observation. Inspired by the beauty, strength and fragility of nature, her work draws deeply from the Warwickshire landscape and the wild coastlines of her Scottish childhood. Moving fluidly between painting, textiles and printmaking, she explores the colours, textures and shifting light of the natural world, seeking always to experiment, play, and move forward.
Rooted in the beauty of the natural world, Fiona’s work captures the emotional pull of landscape, its strength, fragility, and ever-changing light. From the rugged coastlines of her Scottish childhood to the gentle contours of Warwickshire, she finds endless inspiration in colour, texture and form. Working across painting, textiles and printmaking, her creative process is one of curiosity and experimentation, where play and perseverance go hand in hand.
LSA: What is it about the natural world and the Warwickshire landscape that keeps inspiring you?
I am drawn to the beauty, strength and fragility of nature and the lansdscape. It’s rich palette of colours, textures, marks and the light and shadows. And what this conjures up on an emotional level when painting. Everything you need is there in the skies, seas, hills, trees and plants.
I grew up near the sea in Scotland and am drawn to the wild and rugged coatline of Scotland and S West.
LSA: How do you approach experimenting with materials and techniques in your work like you did for your RA print?
Playing in my studio is a big part of what I do and I like experimenting with different mediums working across textiles, paint and canvas; one set of ideas informs the other and mixing media using collage is a form I enjoy working with.
I am relatively new to print making. But it offers endless possibilities. For the RA print I wanted to use tetra pak as it’s a form of recycling and makes a good plate for intaglio and inking up. The theme for the Summer Show was Dialogue and having recently become a grandmother I was drawn to the idea of capturing, in a print,the bond between a mother and a child and the significance of being literally and emotionally ‘Held’ ,hence the title of the work.
I made three plates of this image and printed them up but was not completely happy and then finally made a fourth plate which worked much better, so it required quite a lot of perseverance but was a useful learning opportunity too!! . I was thrilled to have been accepted for the Royal Academy Summer Show.
LSA: How has being part of groups like LSA, Warwickshire Open Studios, or Fabricate shaped your artistic journey?
Being part of the LSA ,Open Studios and other art groups is such a bonus; you become part of an artistic community, sharing ideas, discussing the work, learning new things, planning group shows. The sense of a community is a vital ingredient I believe for any artist.
LSA: You’ve also created work for spaces like University Hospital Coventry. How do you approach making art for a public or community setting compared to your studio practice?
I was commissioned by the Arts Officer for UHCW to do three pieces for the Radiotherapy Suite which was a huge honour .This necessitated quite a few visits to the hospital to discuss size and style of work with her and the nursing staff and with a mural artist who had also been commissioned . We wanted our work to be in harmony. Having had radiotherapy myself a few years earlier I was familiar with the Arden Centre which was helpful and know how daunting those hospital visits are and how soulless are the clinical white empty walls. They need to be softened and made more human by art.
I also primarily wanted to consult with patients and asked if I could set up a small art display and bring along sample ideas to enable me to engage with patients (only if they desired ) to seek their views and involve them in the process. To support this initiative, I spent two mornings in the outpatient reception area .I was a little nervous about not wanting to intrude on patients’ space whilst they were waiting for treatment but was delighted both by the response and the engagement from them. This helped me with the theme of the work: plants and quirky birds but more importantly I had assumed patients might like soft pastel colors but almost everyone said they wanted something bright and cheerful. It was such a valuable consultation process and project and ten years later they still adorn the walls of the Radiotherapy Suite.
LSA: Are there themes, projects, or exhibitions you’re particularly excited about in the year ahead?
I have found myself drawn more to print making and painting these days, but regularly teach textile workshops. My mother was a painter and our house, whilst growing up, was filled with art and every corner was permeated by the smell of oil paint. So the love of art feels in my genes. We regularly go to London and other places to see the exhibitions and I find this such an important part of observing, reflecting on and developing my practice. I’m always seeking to experiment, play around and move forward . It can at times feel like a torturous process, easy to lose confidence but it can also be an exhilarating ride.
I find there is great value in attending workshops to learn from others and to move out of one’s comfort zone and bring a new energy. I am taking a bit of a sabbatical in 2026 to hear myself think, to play and experiment and to build a new body of work for a show the following year.