Brenda Hartill

Biography
Born in London, England, Brenda Hartill emigrated to New Zealand with her parents in the late 1950’s, and was educated there. At Elam Auckland’s art school (BAhons) She returned to London in the late 1960’s to study theatrical design at the Central School of Art and Design. She later turned to printmaking and is a member of the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers (Bankside Gallery), the Rye Society of Artists, and Pure Arts Group.

Awards and publications
1965 New Zealand Arts Council award to the Central School of Art and Design.
1971 UK Arts Council award for young theatre designers, to the Young Vic Theatre.
2004 Wrote “Collagraphs and Mixed Media Printmaking”, published by AC Black.
2012 Produced with Klaw Productions, “A Sculptural approach to Printmaking”,
an instructional DVD (2 discs 3 ½ hours) –

Exhibitions
Bankside Gallery, London, (solo retrospective 2014), Curwen & New Academy Galleries, London (11 solo shows 2013 - 1991) Attic Gallery, Swansea, (solo 2020, 2009, 2007,1997, 1994); Saffron Gallery, Battle (solo 2015, 2012), Cambridge Contemporary Art, (2016, 2011& 2008) St Georges Chapel, Windsor (solo 2009), Roche Gallery, Rye (solo 2008), Lane Gallery Auckland, NZ (solo 2007, 2004) Also show in many mixed exhibitions and on-line shows including for many years the RA Summer Exhibition, Bankside Gallery, Pure Arts Group, and galleries in Australia, New Zealand and Spain.

Artist Statement
Most of my recent works are to do with connecting and developing the ideas I have nurtured over the years. My visual language evolved originally through careful and detailed figurative drawing, which has gradually become freer and more abstract as time moves on. As I head for my 80th year (I’ve just turned 79) I am now enjoying a period reflection and enhancement, and I have a shimmering bank of shapes, forms and textures with which to compile my new paintings, collages and encaustic works.

My work is experimental, abstract and embossed. Collagraph, etching, watercolour, acrylic, collage and encaustic works. My main love is abstracting the essence of the landscape in richly coloured textured works, often enhanced with silver and gold leaf. Recent works include a series of watercolour paintings with collagraph embossings, and mixed-media collage/acrylic works. My early experience as a theatrical designer has led to a sculptural approach to painting and printmaking. My work develops though the materials I use and an on-going fascination is with erosion, weather patterns, natural textures, growth formations and universal organic forms.

I like to think my collectors can find their own connections to my images, and I don’t like to spell out the imagery too specifically. (finding titles is a nightmare) Most of us can be moved by colours and images in nature: the light on an amazing sky; the sea of blue in a bluebell wood; the patina on a piece of weathered metal or a polished piece of old wood, without needing an explanation as to why they get pleasure from looking at it.

I have a great collection of pieces of driftwood I compiled during a visit to New Zealand – they sit in the hand softly and have been shaped by nature. Initially by the growth patterns in trees, then modified by the whirling waves of the sea, the grinding of the sand and tossing of the pebbles. They speak to me and I use the forms in my imagery.

Country UK

Website www.brendahartill.com