Expressive mixed media art

Capturing the calm and beauty of coast and countryside.

Welcome

I'm so pleased you are here.

My name is Cheryl Cunningham and I am an expressive mixed media artist living and working in Boughton Monchelsea. Much of my work is completed en plein air as I immerse myself in my surroundings. I enjoy using elements of collage, and like to incorporate site soils and natural pigments where I can, for an extra connection to each place. I will often use found tools to create varied and loose marks which give a sense of movement and energy in my work.

My colour palette is chosen to convey the feeling of calm and relaxation that I experience in proximity to the sea, and when surrounded by nature. As a keen sea and lake swimmer I have an affinity to water and use sea and lake water in my work. My paintings are uplifting and energising and convey the deep sense of wellbeing that I experience from being connected to nature.

My recent seascape series is entitled Textures and Tides and was completed recently at St Mary's Bay and Camber Sands. These are places that I visit often, and find restorative. My previous series called Sea Vitality was completed at Hythe and St Ives, in Cornwall.

I am passionate about both art and wellbeing. As an experienced natural healthcare therapist it was a simple progression to offer Art and Wellbeing mini retreats to combine relaxation techniques using breath, mindfulness and movement with an art project. The retreats are available during the summer months, so that we can spend as much time outside in nature as possible. I also offer various art workshops for small groups and 1:1 art sessions throughout the year. For further details and dates, please visit my Events page.

Art can connect us with nature, with our memories, and help us feel relaxed when we're stressed, energised when we're tired, or happy when we're sad. It can give us space to breathe in our busy lives.

Breathe Art

"I breathe in all that I survey.

Seeing through a lifetime of memories and experiences

Recording the fragments that I've absorbed, in paint

Composing a feeling from the details.

I breathe out and let go of judgement and control

Responding to the marks as they appear

Following where they lead me

Allowing my intuition to guide me."

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