ABOUT

Annabel graduated from Central Saint Martins with a 1st class BA hons in illustration, however she completed her degree doing automated 3D tin pieces.

Work experience in theatre departments followed, which led to storyboarding for film and working on set, where she became interested in prosthetic make-up application. Annabel became part of the principal make-up department with designer Jenny Shircore, working on major film productions, she also worked on productions at the Royal Opera House. She still creates theatre sets for children’s productions.

Often longing to sketch from the wings of a theatre, film set or just life on the street, Annabel returned to the life drawing studio working primarily in charcoal. This led to a period of work doing large charcoal portraits which suited life with a young family. Wanting to work more in colour with immediacy, painted collage paper came to the life sessions. The torn or cut pieces of imagined anatomy allowed the figures to form yet gave room for play with partial abstraction. Annabel adopted the practice in the studio which is filled with reams of painted up Japanese paper which are being heavily considered in their making.

By the nature of the application of paper on wooden panels, the figures are to remain anonymous when complete. Their state and personality intended to be imagined solely by the viewer and Annabel when she is creating them. She is most drawn to conveying a state of calm even when using a strong palette or pose, she wants the figures to quietly occupy a space.