RODWELL
ARTISTS
BIOGRAPHY
Olivia Nurrish studied at Bower Ashton Art College in Bristol, where painting was
her specialist subject. After graduating with a degree in Fine Art she lived in London
for twenty years raising a family and working in television. She moved to Weymouth
in 1996, following a long-
Still life, portraiture and landscape are the principal themes of her work.
All of her painting is openly and deliberately imbued with a sense of place and form,
demonstrating her schooling and experience in representational techniques and figurative
structure. She clearly enjoys the discipline required to execute her still-
However, her recent work shows the extent to which she has been inspired by the remarkable
nature of the Dorset coast, and inspired to capture its character and moods. She
feels herself "drawn to the light, contrasts and ever-
images, showing a true affinity for her subject matter and the moments she has chosen.
Her studio overlooks Portland Harbour, and it is here that she follows up the fieldwork that precedes many of her outdoor scenes. Much time is spent on preparation: selecting angles of view and compositions, making sketches and colour sets. However, there is no doubt that she is a painter by instinct. She will not hesitate to translate a moment of
inspiration into a picture, and her love of painting finds expression in her combination of boldness and attention to detail. An element of abstraction is present in much of her work, sparing used to good effect, holding the viewer's attention and adding a further dimension to the subject matter.
Olivia Nurrish has held a number of successful exhibitions in Lyme Regis, Portland, Weymouth, Dorchester and Bristol. She also works and exhibits with the Rodwell Artists, and a selection of her paintings are always on display at the Hotel Rembrandt in Weymouth.