Rachel Newton

A self taught abstract artist born in Norfolk in 1970, Rachel now lives and works in Middlesex. 

Rachel creates works in a variety of media, mainly acrylics, producing atmospheric and deceptively understated pieces often on a large scale.

She started abstract painting during a long period of chronic ill health as it provided comfort. Feeling imprisoned in her own body, it followed that her mind, perhaps as a form of  self-preservation 'hibernated', and abstract art became the obvious and indeed only form of self expression.

Using multiple layers of mixed media over an often large expanse of wooden panel, much of the works signify states of mind. Emerging delicately from that expanse of muted colour are textured details evoking fresh possibilities to challenge the stability of hibernation. Indeed, as is evident in her works that include areas of gold, the overriding sense is one of understated optimism.  Inspired partly by Japanese aesthetics, there is a recognition of the beauty of simplicity and unobtrusiveness where the ‘void’ of apparent solid colour becomes a space of potentiality and hope.

Having previously worked as a picture frame restorer she developed an appreciation of the qualities of some of the traditional materials used in that field. Incorporating them in many of her paintings they help to provide depth, texture and a complex finish.