It has been a long time since I wrote or updated my website. Now is the time!
About a year ago I was offered the opportunity to relocate my studio to a place by the river Medway with views over it.
It is an amazing view!
It's a shared space, initially shared with an amazing painter called Sam Scoggins. He painted on a massive scale, patterns influenced by a very early historical period in time.
I loved his work, I describe it as trippy or warp. When I'd walk past ones in the studio that we shared I'd feel a sense of going on a trip - warp factor nine! His work has rythmn, and can give optical illusion of movement and of being 3D. It was an excellent exhibition in June at Sun Pier House.
Sam had to leave as he needed a bigger space for his paintings and for him to work from, and so Sam moved to a different studio and I now have a new studio partner.
As for me, I finished a couple of paintings of birds, the last two portrait paintings of my series of warrior women; Babylon and Boudicca. And I re-visited two of my old paintings.
Things were getting a little strained for me on the home front as my elderly mother had to dedicate all of her time to her best friend and partner when he became bedridden. Sadly he died at the end of July. I felt moved to paint some flowers for him in his memory. I hadn't been able to paint anything at all for months since finishing my painting of Boudicca. It was very sad to lose Tom, I hope he likes my painting I did for him, maybe he sees it - you never know.
This was a painting I created a few years ago, 2020. I wanted to paint a picture of summer and days out. The figures in the boat makes one wonder what might be going on. I'm not sure myself, but to me it's reminiscent of relationships gone sour. Could be part of a family, friends, Could be a date even. If it's that then it's rather scary. I had fun painting the flowers anyway.
At the Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham, Kent. From 21st January 2025 till 7th April 2025.
My first solo show.
Here is a review of the exhibition:
"Though Canadian at birth, Sophie is long-settled in Medway and has been painting for the last fifteen years. Her Dutch father was an “abstract” artist, painting in oils. Her maternal grandparents met as students at the Royal College of Art; they then settled in Medway where he became a teacher at Rochester Art college.
The main medium Sophie uses is acrylic paint, but she also uses pastels, oils, and inks. Her style could be described as more figurative but with a degree of abstraction. It is expressive and engaging.
Sophie’s appreciation of nature and of the built environment is often reflected in her work, as also are her wider interests in history, philosophy, and global affairs.
This exhibition called “Camouflage” is about the necessity of survival during times of war, of battles; and in our civilian and urban lives too. The painting with the title “Camouflage” heads the show. There are depictions of life and war from medieval, pre-medieval, modern, and mystical perspectives. Paintings of the seasons represent cycles of life, of birth and re-birth; and our will to survive adversity. The exhibition evokes a sense of our common ground as human beings; and gives space for reflection."
Everyone at the Royal Engineers museum have been very well organised and helpful, it made curating the show enjoyable and quick. I visit the show every week on a Friday morning.
