Siobhan Purdy

My work is created from memories, experience and family history.

I paint in oils on canvas or board. My surfaces build up a history. I like 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 I aim for.

Structure and composition are important to me and I might move a canvas around many times before I am happy. Not everything works first time.

It is important to me to have a good subject / narrative. I like to paint people, particularly children, and animals. I am constantly scanning everyday images and looking for the one that makes a great painting. If an image is fresh in my mind, I can’t paint it. I have to live with it for a while and forget. Given time, it will re-emerge naturally. That’s when I relive the experience through painting. This creates the dreamlike qualities I look for. I love to explore personalities and caricatures. I feel that body language can say so much. I often use animal features combined with human figures to enhance expression of character and to create an element of extended reality, emphasising the dreamy qualities ...

Solo shows
2002 - Steele Gallery Falmouth exhibition centre
2003 - Contour Gallery – Newlyn
2010 - Over the Moon Gallery - St Agnes
2013 - The Old Dairy Gallery - Penzance

Mixed Shows
1997 - Tate Gallery - St Ives
2000 - 2004 ---Open Studios Treruffe Art Studios,
2003 - Tate Gallery - St Ives
2003 - Bishop Phillpotts Gallery
2003 - Blue monkey Padstow
2003 - Newlyn Art Gallery
2003 - 2004 ---Contour Gallery - Newlyn
2003 - 2004 ---The Wonderwall Gallery- Cirencester
2004 - May Open Launch 13th-20th Treruffe Art Studios
2004 - The chalk house - St Ives
2004 - Cube gallery - Bristol
2005 - 2007 ---The New Craftsman - St Ives
2005 - Serena hall gallery - Suffolk
2006 - Stark contemporary Gallery London
2007 - 2013 ---Open studios - Krowji - Redruth
2007 - 2009 ---Salty Dog Gallery - Rock
2008 - Artonomy Gallery Truro
2008 - 2013 ---Avalon Gallery - Marazion
2009 - 2010 ----Over the Moon Gallery - St Agnes
2009 - Delamore house - Devon
2009 - Morley contemporary Art
2012 - The Old Dairy Gallery - Penzance
2017 - Beside The Wave - London
2018 - The Hidden Gallery - Bristol

Prizes
2003-04 The National Portrait UK Touring Exhibition