Eleanor Woolley

Eleanor’s inspiration is taken from her surroundings, she has a love for the every day things, often passed by without a second thought.
Eleanor’s paintings are vibrant, often painted Plein air and finished in the studio. Starting with bold outlines, many layers of paint are used to create the depth of colour. Her paintings are spontaneous, using washes of oil to create the desired form. Often finishing with a palette knife producing a pleasing texture.
Her current work is inspired by the landscape of the Cotswolds, and the long shadows created by figures in urban landscapes.

First looking at the white canvas i like to draw in bold lines of my image, once i have drawn the outlines of my painting, i like to block in some patches of colour. Imagining areas of colour washes, using waves of oil colour with linseed oil. I then use the shadows to build my composition with more fluid layers of oil paint diluted with linseed.


When I can, I paint from life, otherwise I sketch and photograph. Painting in oils, colours go on in washes, the outlines between light and dark first. Then thicker layers of colour and finer details.
I like to observe what seems mundane, capturing an intensity of people going about their lives. I lik...

Eleanor Woolley was born in the Channel Island of Jersey, and moved to Gloucestershire where she was drawn to the outdoors, always taking walks in the landscape. Her first true love for painting came from an inspirational Art teacher at Haberdashers Monmouth School for Girls where she started painting in Oils at thirteen years old. Here she learnt to paint using classic oil painting techniques, and was drawn to the figure from early life drawing lessons. During this period she was fortunate enough to work under Mary Fedden in her studio and with Portrait Sculptor Peter Lambda with whom she further developed her technique and composition. After gaining her BA Hons in Sculpture at Leeds University Eleanor travelled for some time in Asia before coming home to study Furniture making. Eleanor worked as a Cabinet maker and a Restorer before returning to Fine Art painting.

Cheltenham Open Studios 2023