V E N E T I A S Y M S
Born in Belfast, 1990
Venetia studied classical portraiture at Charles Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy and went on to University College Falmouth, U.K and the Heatherley’s School of Fine Art in London. She was a contestant on ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’ TV programme in 2016.
Venetia now paints colourful impasto paintings inspired by the natural world from her studio in London. Her contemporary still life paintings are a modern interpretation of a traditional idea by setting flowers in front of patterned fabrics. “I'm obsessed with colourful textile design; I paint interpretations of my favourite fabrics in the background of my paintings. I particularly love Suzani inspired designs which remind me of my travels across central Asia along the silk road allowing my paintings to take you to another place. Using a palette knife I stroke indulgent layers of oil paint to capture the life and colour of cut flowers.”
Venetia’s paintings have been exhibited across the U.K and in Amsterdam. She had an exhibition at the Chelsea Flower Show 2022 & 2021.
Prior to this Venetia was living in Zimbabwe for four years. Initially to see family roots and paint dramatic landscapes and exotic wildlife. After her first year she had a solo show in Harare depicting her ‘Balancing Rocks’ series. Subsequently she Co-founded an African sculpture and design Art Gallery. The principal objective was to represent a collective of contemporary African Artists inspired by nature. Working with local artists and communities sourcing suitable stone according to an ethos of sustainability and fair trade. Sadly, this all came to an end at the beginning of the covid pandemic and she moved back to the U.K.
Venetia’s art constantly evolves around themes of nature. Growing up in the countryside in the Southwest of England Venetia also paints punchy impasto landscapes of scenes that remind her of “home.”
