Holly Inkster

I am a large-scale abstract expressionist painter. Born and raised in New Zealand, I currently live in the South of France after 13 years of living in outer London. From 2001-2005 I studied fine art, design and art history at Massey University School of Design in Wellington, New Zealand, gaining an honours degree in Visual Communication Design. Through exhibitions in various locations around the world my works have been sold to clients in several counties including Spain, England, Dubai, Germany, France, Australia and New Zealand.

Described as unavoidably bold, my work has a real presence in any room due to the scale and the intensity of the colours. I produce most of my paintings in oil on canvas, in substantial proportions of up to 200cm wide. At this scale I can fully express my vision using broad, dynamic brushstrokes. Often plant life is recognisable in my works and sometimes I paint in a totally abstracted style. While gaining most of my inspiration from nature, I avoid focussing on the accurate representation of plant-life and instead focus on experimentations with colour and linework.

Compositionally I am interested in the tension and balance between beauty, distress, space and movement. As in life, the raw and rough f...

Bachelor of Visual Communication Design with honours.

2023 ‘Dans le Jardin, Début en France’ Smith Gallery, Montauroux, Côte D’Azur, solo exhibition
2020 36th Annual Open, Southwark Park Galleries, London, group exhibition
2020 Covid lockdown online show, solo exhibition
2013 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, solo exhibition
2011 Emporium, Muswell Hill, London, solo exhibition
2010/11 Lavely, Acton, London, solo exhibition
2010 ‘Spring’10’ Exhibition, Cafe Seventy Nine, Primrose Hill, London, solo exhibition
2009 Charity auction, London, group show
2009 ‘Colours of a Journey’ Holly Inkster Pop-up Gallery, Kings Road Chelsea Farmers Market, Chelsea, London, shared exhibition
2009 ‘In the Garden at Primrose’ Cafe Seventy Nine, Primrose Hill, London, solo exhibition
2006 Delux, Wellington, solo exhibition
2005 Wellington Art Show, Wellington, public art expo
2004 Massey University, end of year showcase
2002 Massey University, end of year showcase
1999 Rosetta Cafe, Raumati, Kapiti Coast, commissioned display