Heather Rachel Johnston

I am a colourist and like to paint vibrant, dynamic work that aims to create an emotional connection. I enjoy the beauty of nature in all its glory and aim to capture moments of time, place, energy and colour that resonate with me. Many of these moments come to me in the most remote and peaceful parts of the British Isles where nature is displayed in its full rugged beauty.

My art is generally not a true representation of reality as I paint primarily to express a feeling or to re-create a visual that I have in my mind's eye. I paint from within and also from photos which I have taken. My current inspiration comes from working from memory of places that make me happy. Currently my work involves collage.

I am both an Artist and a Coach and I have been painting since the year 2000 starting with watercolours and moving into exploring acrylics and oils. I enjoy working in all mediums and like to experiment with different textures, mediums and styles.

I live in North Essex on the Essex/Suffolk border and like to travel within the UK to inspire my art. You will see in my collections some of the places i have enjoyed going to over the last few years.

For me colour is the essence of my art and I combine that with texture and mo...

I started painting as an escape from working in the City of London and having a strong call to be creative. I started though local art classes and under the mentoring of Ray Whyard an artist and local art teacher I became more and more hooked. I subsequently attended two years of courses at Central St Martin's School of art in London.

I have also attended courses with professional artists that inspire me such as David Tress, Ashley Hanson and Paul Wadsworth to name a few!

I also work as a psychologically based coach and organisational development consultant and have a first degree in Economics from the University of St Andrews and an MBA from Henley management college and various qualifications in evidence based people development.

Solo

Suffolk Open Studios, 10-11th and 17-18th June 2017 Great Horkesley
Suffolk Open Studios, Great Horkesley 4-5th June 2016
Colchester & Tendring Open Studios, September/October 2016
The Open Road Bookshop, Stoke By Nayland, 2nd-31st May 2015 Private view 6-8pm Friday 1st May
Suffolk Open Studios, Great Horkesley 6-7th and 20-21st June 2015
Colne Gallery, Colchester General Hospital, 1st to 29th November 2015
Red Lion Books Colchester Solo exhibition, The Nature of Colour April 2014
The Treble Tile Restaurant, Art About Town, West Bergholt 19th-31st May 2014
Suffolk Open Studios, Great Horkesley 7-8th and 28-29th June 2014
Cuckoo Farm Open Studios, 13-14th September 2014
Colne Gallery, Colchester General Hospital, Solo Exhibition 27th October-28th November 2014

Group

The Old Fire House Station, Henley on Thames: Cornwall, Colour & Coast 19th-24th July 2018
The Barn, Old House, Great Horkesley with Annabel Ridley 9th July 2017
Colchester Art Society Summer Show, 15-29th July 2017
Sentinel Gallery Summer Show, 28 July-28th August 2017
Wiston Gallery, Nr Nayland June/early July 2016
The Sentinel Gallery, Wivenhoe, sentinel Select, 5th-28th March 2016
Porthleven Lifeboat Art Studio, Pop up Group Exhibit...