Michele Ashby PS SWA SoGFA PSA-MP IAPS-EP

About

Suffolk based award winning, pencil wielding artist. Professional Artist for 10 years, Council Member of the Pastel Society and the Society of Women Artists. Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America and Eminent Pastelist with IAPS (The International Association of Pastel Societies).

Statement

My work is rooted in people, connection and the quiet complexity of being human. I am drawn to the moments that reveal something beneath the surface: vulnerability, identity, love, change and the often-unspoken stories we carry with us. As an artist, I am particularly interested in portraiture as a form of seeing. For me, a portrait is never simply an image of someone. It is an attempt to look beyond appearance and to capture something of the person within: their character, their fragility, their strength and the parts of themselves that may not always be visible to the outside world. Pastel allows me to explore these ideas through colour, texture and mark making. There is something intimate about this process that mirrors the way we come to know another person, slowly, attentively and without assumption. My family are often an important source of inspiration. Through drawing them, I explore not only who they are, but how deeply we can see and understand one another. Ultimately, my work is about connection. It is about looking closely, questioning assumptions and creating space for people to be seen, understood and accepted for exactly who they are.

Education

• 1985BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Kingston Polytechnic , Surrey

Recognition

Commissions

I take portrait commissions, whether black and white or colour. I prefer to take my own photographs - however I understand this is not always convenient, therefore I am happy to work from a good quality digital image. I prefer the artwork size to be smaller than actual sight size.

Starting from $533