An artist who continuously pushes the boundaries of figurative art
This month’s spotlight on a British Art Club member
AMELIA WEBSTER, a British Art Prize 2022 shortlist, is a figurative artist with an undying passion for portraiture, who has carved her creative path through a labyrinth of artistic exploration and self-discovery. “I didn’t ever think about art as a career,” Amelia admits, reflecting on her early aspirations. Growing up, she had contemplated careers in dance, forensic science and art therapy. It wasn’t until after college that she truly began to consider life as an artist. “All I knew was that being creative and making art was a part of who I am. I just had to work out a way to be able to do that daily.”
Amelia’s love for painting ignited during her GCSE years when she created a family portrait for her final project. The experience of working with acrylic paints under the intense pressure of a 10-hour exam was exhilarating. “I got to the end and thoroughly enjoyed every second,” she recalls. Her teacher’s interest in buying one of her portraits bolstered her confidence.
Another pivotal moment arrived during the first year of her art degree when she experimented with oil paints and discovered her affinity for the chiaroscuro (light-dark) technique. “Something just clicked into place during that project, and I have been using oil paints ever since.”
While she occasionally explores other subjects like landscapes and still life, portraiture remains her passion. “Whatever I do, it always comes back to portraiture,”
