Bliss Coulthard is an artist and illustrator from north London. She studied fine art painting at Brighton university and recently graduated from a masters in illustration at the university of arts in Camberwell.
In her work she uses watercolour paint to create surreal portraits and distorted figurative work that explores identity and relationship dynamics. While some of the paintings are based on found photographs of family and friends, others are imagined. “I tend to choose images which convey an emotion or personality. I love the fluidity of watercolours, the spontaneity, the opportunities it gives for mood and emotion”. Her paintings are often expressive, experimenting with new figures, patterns and shapes, probing beneath the surface reality to explore psychological truths about who we are and how we relate to one another.
Her work is often autobiographical; drawing on memories of childhood and growing up, whilst capturing moments of sadness, anger, despair, and happiness. She has always been fascinated by portraiture; how our self image conflicts with how others see us and the difference between our inner and outer experiences of the world.
