A forensic approach to composition

Using an array of handpicked, well-chosen props with visceral appeal, Olwyn Bowey’s rustic still life set-ups have a charm of their own. She ignites the senses with a combination of textures and warm earthy tones. Regularly including natural materials such as cane, wicker, wooden trays, terracotta pots and various seasonal plants, she delights in the scruffiness of the subject matter. Often in contrast to the fluid organic forms of foliage, strong directional lines cut through the picture plane. Each and every brushstroke is meaningfully executed.

Compulsive

Olwyn says that getting into the Royal College of Art gave her the chance of a lifetime, ‘It led to the RA and just about everything since.’ British painter Sir Stanley Spencer has been her main influence. ‘His landscapes, still life and portrait paintings are nearer to the way I see things