Julia Swaby

My original training was as a watercolour artist for a small studio in Surrey. I abandoned that to pursue an academic career and taught Philosophy & Psychology (specialising in Philosophy of Mind) for ten years. Overloaded with words and complex ideas, my mind was wilting from the lack of spontaneous input and so I began to paint abstract as pure expressionism. Once the palette knife was in hand, I connected to abstract art in a way I had never connected to any creative output. I wouldn't say I have left Philosophy behind entirely, only that those concepts are finding a new channel. I work in oils and prefer larger canvases, finding a mental openness when painting on this scale. When work does lean towards nature, it tends to pay homage to my coastal hometown. What fascinates me most is the energy of a painting. One artist said that a painting has a temporal measure and I think that’s true. I hope to share my love of the world and of states of fullness through my work. There is so much to be grateful for in this beautiful and sacred world and that is what I am contemplating when I paint and what I wish to share with you.

BA Politics, Philosophy & History (1st class)

2019 Summer Exhibition, Rye Society of Artists
2021 'Translations' Rye Bank Gallery

abstract, impressionist, oil, large, nature, expressionist