about
About Sophie Cole
Sophie Cole was born in 1977 and grew up in the South East of England before moving to Wales to gain her BA
in English Literature at Swansea University. After completing her degree she spent some time travelling then
returned to London where she took a job in the City in early 2001. Whilst working there she began to paint
for private commissions and after a while also began to take on commissions in commercial areas.
Her work can be divided into two areas, her landscapes and her figurative work.
She uses a variety of mixed media in her work including oils, acrylics, charcoal and water colour on large
and small scale canvas and paper.
Artist’s Statement
My figurative works are painted with the intent of drawing out and expressing the essence of the exposed female form. Areas of the figure may be a complex blend of colour and line in contrast to other areas which are delicate and merely intimate at the pose. It is the unifying of these two techniques that lead the eye to the whole; to the depth, design and harmony of the female bodies natural attractive physicality and presence. I do not usually paint the models face so as to not distract from or specifically personalise the form.My sea and landscapes sway between the dramatic and the peaceful but always reflective capturing memories of places visited. Having spent my university years on the Welsh coast I has a particular affinity for those landscapes and in particular the Gower Peninsular where I spent a lot of my time. My paintings are concerned with the forceful nature of the sea that carves into the British coast, the seasonal changes of the land and the shifting light patterns that it brings.
My work is an intuitive and organic process; a lot of the time the original concept is changed by the very act of painting and in this way I find the painting becomes a better representation of its subject.