Fusion Arts Website

Artist's Page

Olivia Downey

work: 0208 9748007
downey01@talktalk.net

Artist's Statement

I am a painter though at times my practice has ranged from installation drawings to visual books. My work is founded on drawing and for a number of years the central theme of my work has been resurrection. I have tackled this in a number of ways, using flowers symbolically like the Flemish painters of the 16th century, but also more directly, the old Testament passage, `The Valley of Dry Bones`, has been a major theme in my work for some time. In this passage, a valley of bones is brought to life again through hearing the Word of God. My work is observational. Light, the figure and narrative are central to my work.

Background

I have shown work both as an individual and in a number of group shows. My work is in a number of private collections including that of Lord Sainsbury and I have worked to commission both for individuals and for Windsor plc. I have been a resident artist in a number of venues, notably the Royal Court Theatre, The Guildhall school of Music and Drama and the Spring Harvest Festival. An article on narrative art, `Words and Pictures`, based on a lecture at the Spring Harvest Festival was published in Articulate, the journal of the Arts Centre Group. I have sat on an Arts Team planning committee for a large festival where I was responsible for devising, running and promoting a series of arts workshops for the general public.