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Now based in London, Holly Elan Watson started painting in 2019 while living in New Zealand. Aware that she would have to bring her works and materials back to the UK, she began working on paper using only red, yellow and blue acrylics. By heavily watering these down and mixing her own colours, what started as a way of saving space and money has led to the vibrant, watercolour-esque style that she continues to use.
Using inks and liquid acrylics, Holly Elan’s paintings explore the figurative, colour and control. By working in a way that allows paint to spread and bleed freely, she is able to create unpredictable shapes and marks that couldn’t be achieved by hand. The works invite the viewer to appreciate the beauty in small areas of merging, exploding and uncontrollable colour She is heavily influenced by her surroundings and paints intimate scenes from the everyday. The use of bright and sometimes jarring colours can juxtapose these quiet moments, bringing joy and lightness to the works and celebrating these everyday images. |
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Exhibitions
2022
Habitat
Contemporary Six Gallery, Manchester, UK
2021
Strange Times
Dreamy 10a, London, UK
2021
Young Artists Summer Exhibition- third place
Arts Depot, London, UK
2021
Re:store Re:new Re:imagine
Willesden Gallery, London, UK
2020
Emergent Vision
Uncovered Collective, Safehouse 1 & 2, London, UK
2020
Congruence
I Like Your Work, Online Exhibition
2020
Close Enough to Touch (solo exhibition)
BATS Theatre, Wellington, NZ,
2019
50 Squared Art Prize
Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, AU
2017
Exhibition III
The Space, Bristol, UK
2017
Moliere Project 3rd Edition
Lycée Molière Bruxelles, Brussels, BEL
2017
Eleventh
Spike Island, Bristol, UK
2017
I'm Fine
The Crypt, St Paul's Church, Bristol, UK
2017
Spike Open
Spike Island, Bristol, UK
2017
Drag Rave
The Queenshilling, Bristol, UK
2016
Mish Mash
The Island, Bristol, UK
2016
End
Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam, NLD
2016
Spike Open
Spike Island, Bristol, UK
Habitat
Contemporary Six Gallery, Manchester, UK
2021
Strange Times
Dreamy 10a, London, UK
2021
Young Artists Summer Exhibition- third place
Arts Depot, London, UK
2021
Re:store Re:new Re:imagine
Willesden Gallery, London, UK
2020
Emergent Vision
Uncovered Collective, Safehouse 1 & 2, London, UK
2020
Congruence
I Like Your Work, Online Exhibition
2020
Close Enough to Touch (solo exhibition)
BATS Theatre, Wellington, NZ,
2019
50 Squared Art Prize
Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, AU
2017
Exhibition III
The Space, Bristol, UK
2017
Moliere Project 3rd Edition
Lycée Molière Bruxelles, Brussels, BEL
2017
Eleventh
Spike Island, Bristol, UK
2017
I'm Fine
The Crypt, St Paul's Church, Bristol, UK
2017
Spike Open
Spike Island, Bristol, UK
2017
Drag Rave
The Queenshilling, Bristol, UK
2016
Mish Mash
The Island, Bristol, UK
2016
End
Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam, NLD
2016
Spike Open
Spike Island, Bristol, UK
Residencies
2017
Can Serrat Artist Residency
Can Serrat, El Bruc, Barcelona, ESP
Can Serrat Artist Residency
Can Serrat, El Bruc, Barcelona, ESP