Meet Lucy Merriman and enter a vibrant world of abstract landscapes

Introducing our new artist  Lucy Merriman. 

Lucy’s work features vibrant colours and expressive brushstrokes, along with themes of movement and energy, changing perceptions of our natural environment. Read on to find out more about her practice and prints;

Can you tell us a bit about yourself, who you are and your practice?

My background is in Textile Design and I’ve had a long career as a printed textile designer & consultant in the fashion & sportswear industry. During lockdown, I started painting and printmaking again. Having worked on a computer for years I was itching to get back to hand-rendered marks and pure painting. Having studied textiles, I have experience in screen printing on fabric so it was a natural progression for me to move into printmaking. I also combine mono printing which is one of the more painterly techniques of printmaking, it’s very versatile and close to drawing and painting. You can work spontaneously to create beautiful imperfections, leaving things to chance allows you to experiment freely.

Your pieces are so vibrant and full of energy, what is your creative process?

My work is a response to the surrounding landscape using emotive colour and expressive brushstrokes to create abstract and semi- abstract landscapes. I’ve worked with colour for many years it’s something very intuitive to me and is one of the driving forces behind my work, along with themes of movement and energy. I use a mixed-media approach developed through painted sketches, mono prints and photography.

Where do you draw inspiration for your art?

I have two lines of enquiry in my practice at the moment, both related to the landscape with similar themes. I live on the edge of Hackney Marshes in East London, during my daily walks in Lockdown along the River Lea path I was drawn closer to this urban-rural  landscape, a haven and an escape from the city. These green spaces became evidently important during lockdown and still provide endless inspiration today. The second source of inspiration is the Lake District where I spend family holidays walking in the fells. Echoing paths my parents and my husband’s parents once walked. The dramatic landscape is immersive and energising. Now more than ever there is a need for people to re-connect to the natural world, appreciate it and. look after it.

What is your favourite scene to paint?

Gosh, that’s a difficult one as there are so many. If I had to choose one, then it would be up in the fells of the Lake District. The scenery is spectacular, the wide open spaces, undulating paths and the shear perspective of being up high with the lakes and land around you.

Your pieces are so lively and colourful, do you have a favourite colour palette? Or one you typically avoid?

Colours evolve in a piece, so one informs the other as the painting develops. The colours of the landscape are enhanced and I often highlight them with neon pops to add surprise. I generally don’t use black, the very dark tones are always a mix of other darker colours.

Have you got any other exciting projects coming up?

There are lots of exciting things happening this year, many I can’t talk about at the moment. I’ve recently exhibited at Affordable Art Fair Hampstead so there are projects in the pipeline as a result of the show. June is a busy month with East London Printmakers Open Studio on Sun 9th. I’m also completing the Year Long Studio Practice Course at Newlyn School of Art in Cornwall. We will be having an end-of-year show at The Tremenheere Gallery, Penzance at the end of June which will be a celebration of experimentation from the artists on the course!

Out of your collection, have you got a favourite print?

That’s hard to decide, I have two favourites! ' Spring in the Fells' is from a favourite painting on canvas sold last year and 'The Moon’s Flute', both remind me of restorative walks in the Lake District and the beauty of our natural world.