Peterborough based Artist to unveil new lockdown art collection inspired by local landscapes

Ashley Stuart will be unveiling a new collection of art inspired by her exploration of Peterborough landscapes after starting her own business in lockdown
Ferry Meadows.Ferry Meadows.
Ferry Meadows.

Lockdown has been a challenging time for everyone but Ashley has used her time productively to start her own art business. This happened almost by accident as she was finally persuased to see some of her artwork by her husband, Wilder.

She said: “I’ve been an artist my entire life but I’ve been private about my work. During the lockdown, I was using art as a method of de-stressing and it began to pile up with no purpose in sight.

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“My husband prompted me to sell just one piece on social media, just to see. Ready to prove him wrong, I posted it and within 30 minutes it was sold. So naturally, I posted a few more and all sold.

Ashley StuartAshley Stuart
Ashley Stuart

“Using my experience as a branding designer, I built an online shop, art brand, researched the nitty-gritty about small business ownership, and painted a product line over the last few months.

“The support and sales I’ve received has been humbling.”

Ashley has always been interested in art, she graduated from the University of Ohio with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design in 2007 and has worked in the industry for 13 years in both the UK and USA.

Originally from America, she moved to the UK in 2015 and now lives in Peterborough, where she has been developing her art.

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Her chosen medium is watercolours, watercolour pencils and graphite. This involves using the watercolours to create a fluid base and using the pencils to sketch over the top to create depth, definition and texture.

Her primary focus has been on figurative landscapes from across the world but the lockdown caused her to look closer to home and this is where the idea for the “Just Beyond” collection came from.

The exhibition, which will be avablaible to the public on September 6, features ten UK landscapes close to Peterborough. Some of the locations included are Hunstanton beach, Ferry Meadows and Ely Cathedral.

She added: “As a travel artist, lockdown felt completely restrictive buta as time went on, I realized I was given a gift to really see the beauty of where we live and translate the curiosity of what lies just beyond into a collection.

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“Each piece has a hint of mystery to what lies beyond, nodding to the notion that there is always further to go and more to experience.

“I enjoy being able to share the new collection with the community so that others may find hope and beauty in these uncertain times.”

Once released, the collection will be available here.

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