Cornish Abstract Landscape Painter Natalie Day

I'm an abstract landscape painter who uses natural materials to tell a story of the land.

Embracing the Cornish landscape as a source of inspiration and materials, I seek an expression of how I sense the world through my abstract landscape paintings. I’m interested in the visual impact of what has been left behind, what is hidden, what will erode and what will remain indefinitely.

I spend many hours on location, both walking and in quiescence, to allow time for the landscape to speak. From these moments of expanded self, when a connection to my subject is felt, I am able to make loose studies and gather photographic reference, noting the natural colour palettes and gathering earth samples.

My current work interrogates ideas of home and place, in particular the Neolithic remnants on Bodmin Moor, and investigates the tension between abandoned artefacts of ancient settlements and industry and how they sit in the natural world. Inspired by the multi-viewpoint approach explored by Peter Lanyon, the energy and freedom of the abstract expressionists, and the great Sublime, I combine observation and experience with elements of surface topography, aerial and cross-sectional views to abstract the landscape whilst provoking a sense of the familiar.

My practice is moving towards using natural and recycled materials as much as possible as I attempt to minimise waste and chemical/plastic pollution. I use mainly water-based mediums, including paint made with earth gathered responsibly on location. This allows me to connect respectfully with the site and create work made about and of the land.

Artist Career

The last 2 years have been a period of huge transformation for Natalie. During these extraordinary times she’s fully consolidated her art practice, reflecting deeply and planning ahead. She’s developed relationships with artists, architects and designers nationally that are shaping her ideas and themes as she continues to push and explore her practice. 

Natalie completed Falmouth University foundation in 1994 but life events meant she couldn’t pursue her formal training. In 2007/8 she had an intense period of creating and selling work to support her practice and after a radical overhaul to her life in 2018 started building herself a career as an artist alongside her health professional role as a chiropractor. She is now a full-time artist living and working in Cornwall.

She recently completed 2 years of study with the Newlyn Art School which has consolidated her ideas and interests and given her tools to be rigorous in her critical thinking. She is now a guest tutor at the St Ives School of Painting, School of Outdoor Art and runs her own classes in Bude.

Current collaborations:
Guest tutor at St Ives School of Painting and School of Outdoor Art
Participant in Cultivator Creative and Cultural Leadership Development Programme (cohort 3)
Lindi Reynolds Interior Design Artist Appreciation Initiative

Current Events:
Solo show at the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro (April to June 2023

Upcoming Events:
Solo exhibition at The Castle, Bude (November/December2023)

Memberships:
a-n The Artists Information Company
Visual Artists Association
ArtCan.org

Current Galleries/Outlets:
Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro
Oriel Gallery, Pembrokeshire
UK Artists Online

Awards/Selections:
Cultivator Cornwall ‘Mentoring’ grant to work with arts writer Kate Reeve-Edwards (2022-3)
Cultivator Cornwall 'Creative Investment' grant for website redevelopment (2022)
Cultivator Cornwall 'Individual Skills Development' grant to work with Gareth Edwards RWA (2022)
Longlisted VAA Professional Artists Award (2022)
Finalist Broadway Arts Festival Open Call (2021)
Jackson’s Art Prize 2 pieces longlisted (2018)

Residencies:
Self-organised and self-directed 6 week residency in West Penwith, Cornwall (Aug-Sept 2021)
Self-organised and self-directed short residencies in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire (May, July and September 2021)


Previous events/exhibitions:

2022
Ingenious Pursuits group show, Bude (December)
The Big Art Fair, Paisley Scotland (August to December 2022)
Penwith Society of Arts Associates Winter Show (November to January 2023)
Artist-led Jupiter Gallery Takeover group show, Newlyn (October)
The Old News Building London Bridge (work placed by ArtCan)
‘Earth Works’ workshop delivery with School of Outdoor Art (July)
Newlyn School of Art Mentoring group show at Tremenheere Gallery, Penzance (June)
Joint show at Oriel Gallery, Pembrokeshire (April)

2021
Christmas Open Studios at Krowji Creative, Cornwall
Artist-led Group show at The Old Fire Station Henley (December)
Collaboration with Bron Jones at Little Buckland Gallery (Autumn)
FRESH Art Fair Cheltenham with Little Buckland Gallery (Summer)
Newbury Contemporary Art Fairs (July/Aug)
Newlyn School of Art Group Show in PZ Gallery Penzance (June)
Broadway Arts Festival finalist in Arts Prize competition

2020
Oxfordshire Artweeks (May & December festivals)
Surrey Contemporary Art Fairs (March)

2019
Dolphin Art Gallery Wantage ‘New Work’ exhibition (December for 3 months)
Edinburgh Art Fair with Bourne Art (November)
Windsor Contemporary Art Fairs (November)
Sussex Art Fair Brighton (October)
Newbury Contemporary Art Fairs (May)
Oxfordshire Artweeks at West Ox Gallery (May)
Surrey Contemporary Art Fairs (March)
West Ox Arts ‘New Work’ group exhibition (February)

2018
Jackson’s Art Prize 2 pieces longlisted
Windsor Contemporary Art Fairs (November)
Faringdon Arts Society 54th annual exhibition (October)
West Ox Arts ‘Music and Movement’ group exhibition (February)

Small Originals

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