British semi-abstract painter TAMARA WILLIAMS’ design background strongly influences her work. Sara Mumtaz learns more about other inspirations behind the artist’s practice
BORN IN A FAMILY OF CREATIVES, Tamara Williams’ love of art comes naturally. A contemporary British painter, designer and printmaker, she creates art which is a blend of texture, mark-making, letterpress and mono-printing. At a young age, she referred to her drawings as a visual diary which helped translate and capture the true essence of what she felt in the moment.
Tamara’s work is hugely inspired by her surroundings whilst she finds that daydreaming is the best form of inspiration. She lets her intuition guide her artwork and take her someplace ‘other;’ somewhere she hadn’t planned. Through her art, she hopes to emotionally connect with her audience by capturing a moment that she didn’t know existed for them.
With a degree in graphic design – and having worked with the likes of Marks & Spencer and Burberry – Tamara eventually decided to revisit her love of printmaking.
She is the co-creator of Ruby-Kite, a brand which creates timeless, wearable art pieces. The process of seeing colour stories from her paintings come to life on silk and cashmere is rewarding. She says, “Our aim is to create treasured, timeless pieces that prioritise longevity over fast fashion; original art scarves that stand-out in a world of mass production. Making our products as sustainable as possible is key.”
tamarawilliams.co.uk ▶
Most of my family are creative but in different ways.
My grandmother painted, although not professionally. My parents were involved in the film industry – performing, writing and directing – and my older sister became an art director which inspired me to study art and design. My work is a visual amalgamation of memories and feelings from the places I have visited.
The landscape around my studio in Surrey, near the Thames is a strong influence.
The riverbank and surrounding fields filled with their tangle of wildflowers and graphic shapes, which I deconstruct into abstracted layers of texture, are represented in my latest work. As an artist, I frequently suffer from creative blocks and the best thing to do is go for a walk and start looking, rather than doing. It fills my head with imagery that kickstarts creative thinking again.
Stepping outside the art world allows you to think freely.
