Stephanie Richards British, b. 1978

My works are composed of small-scale paintings, mostly still life. I prefer to paint intuitively, working directly onto the board and allow the paintings to evolve over time. From the confusion of colours, written word and shapes initially driven by my mood, location and sounds around me, the process continues with paring back, further mark-making and consideration until a feeling of serenity and balance is found.

The anchor in most my work is the flowers – often standing alone in simple vessels. Most are considered weeds, inspiration from our unkempt wild garden when at home in Cornwall. A hushed scream about the importance of each and every plant, individually significant yet so often removed. I hope to bring the contentment and peace I feel whilst immersed outside in nature, inside to the studio and into my paintings - bringing the outside inside.