Samantha Parkhouse

The motivation behind my portraits is an enduring curiosity in people; in the timelessness and beauty of the human spirit and its emotional resonance when challenged by adversity.



My work tells the narrative of human experience and strength of character. My aim is to inform and empower others with these stories to inspire confidence and positive outlook. Every person has a unique story to tell, and while each story may be similar, I want to celebrate the beauty of individuality, empower difference and champion the spirit of resilience.



My portraits are deliberately monumental in scale and attention-seeking. This is to support and reflect the strength of the subject, and to stop people from walking past and ignoring them.



By utilising hyper realistic style in my painting, nothing is hidden. The painterly quality and application of paint is a tribute to the beauty of the texture, rich tone, smoothness and vibrant health of the subject’s skin.

SAMANTHA PARKHOUSE (b. 1995, London, United Kingdom) is a contemporary portrait painter, living and working in London. She graduated with a BA in Painting from the University of Edinburgh in 2017, having previously studied at City and Guilds London Art School and Sotheby’s in New York.



Samantha started her career winning the Turner Contemporary Prize in 2012, hanging her work in the Turner Contemporary, Margate. She went on to hold 2 sold out solo exhibitions in Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London and has been part of a collection of mixed exhibitions in Edinburgh and London.



Most recently, Samantha has exhibited in the Royal Academy in the 250th anniversary of the Summer Exhibition, having her most famous work ‘Fortitude’ 2018 (part of her ‘Cancer Series’) curated by Grayson Perry alongside a Hockney. In the same year, the whole series was exhibited in the Royal Scottish Academy.

Royal Academy, '250th Summer Exhibition' - 2018

Royal Scottish Academy, 'New Contemporaries' Exhibition - 2018

SOLO EXHIBITION - Theobald Jennings Gallery, Mayfair 'Aura - The Psychological Relationship between Colour and Emotions' 2012

SOLO EXHIBITION - Theobald Jennings Gallery, Mayfair, 'Perspectives - Seeing London Through an Abstract Lens' 2011

Edinburgh College of Art, 'Degree Show' Exhibition - 2017

Edinburgh College of Art, '3rd Year' Exhibition - 2016

Gayfield Square Gallery, 'Edinburgh Art Festival' - 2015

SOLO EXHIBITION - St Augustine’s Church in Kensington, London - A charity exhibition for the Rhema Partnership in India - 2013

Edinburgh College of Art, '2015 - 2nd year' Exhibition - 2015

City & Guilds London Art School, 'Foundation' Exhibition - 2014

Turner Contemporary Gallery, 'Turner Contemporary Prize'
- 2012


PRIZES:

Winner of the ‘Turner Contemporary Art Prize’. Work exhibited at Turner Contemporary Gallery, Margate 2012