I am a landscape artist working from my studio in the seaside town of Aberystwyth, on the West Coast of Wales.

My work has always been founded in landscape however, rather than trying to replicate a particular scene, I approach the theme from a different perspective. I primarily paint in response to memories and photographs of swimming in the sea (or anywhere I can find!), walking in the hills and mountains, and biking in West Wales. My paintings capture some of the shapes, light, and colour of the surrounding landscape but also the mood and energy of memories of being immersed in the landscape. I enjoy using an Olympus TG6 waterproof camera whilst swimming and these photographs prompt the paintings which follow. 

I have painted, walked and swum around Borth and Aberystwyth for the last ten years. I have fallen in love with deep, cold dives into dark water and with golden storm clouds rolling across the sky. My paintings have developed out of frothy swims in winter waves, the calm of floating on the surface on a still day, and from the quiet moments looking out over the fields and hills from the studio window.

Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested my work.

Rachel Rea