Collection: Abigail Bowen

I like to say that I paint ‘The Edge of The Rainbow’. The term comes from Donna Tartt’s novel, The Goldfinch as she describes a space that sits just beyond reality, where all beauty, magic and art exists. My paintings are an attempt to conjure this space, to invite you to leave this existence and entice you into the realms of dreams, imagination and emotions. However, just like a rainbow, this ethereal place is blurry, shimmering and impossible to capture.

In practice, each piece takes 3 - 6 months as I use layers and layers of thin, runny oil paint to create glowing glazes of colour. This process builds a rich patina that vibrates and changes in the light. As I work on each piece over many months, slowly applying each translucent layer, I like to imagine that light and air is caught within the painting, allowing it to breathe and come alive.

I live in Brighton and graduated in Fine Art, Painting from Chelsea College of Art and Design.