LARA BOWEN
INSPIRATION & PROCESS
The way I create is not a straight line. I work in series, collections, or projects, guided by my mood or recent sources of inspiration. Embracing these different bodies of work allows me to fluidly move between them, letting each one inform and influence the other. While painting is my primary medium, my practice also includes projection, photography, and various techniques such as encaustic and collage. This multifaceted approach keeps my work dynamic and constantly evolving.
At the heart of my work is a deep fascination with the joy I find in colour, light, and form. My art delves into the rhythmic passage of time - the "tick-tock" of existence - and how certain aesthetic elements evoke memories and emotions. Ultimately, my work seeks to explore how art makes us feel on a visceral level.
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My subject matter varies, ranging from cut flowers and travel-inspired memories to subtle colour transitions, figurative works, and the way light filters through trees. These themes often cycle and overlap, creating a dynamic interplay within my practice.
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In my process, objects are abstracted and reduced to their essential forms, while colours are heightened to convey the narrative. Music is always playing in my studio, particularly the voices of female singer-songwriters, whose energy often shapes both the mood of my paintings and the titles they bear.
I studied at Hastings College of Art and Oxford Brookes University, graduating in 1993 with a multidisciplinary background. During my time as Communications Officer for the Students' Union, I expanded my skill set and broadened my perspective.
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After graduating, I moved to Cyprus, where I taught art at the school level, learned the craft of stained glass, and spent four years immersed in a different culture - an experience that profoundly influenced my artistic development.
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Upon returning to Brighton & Hove in the late 1990s, I pursued further studies in Arts and Cultural Management at Sussex University, and in 2000, I established a gallery. Since then, I have worked closely with both emerging and established artists, while continuing to evolve my own artistic practice.
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I regularly exhibit at art fairs and galleries across the UK and in my Hove studio and gallery space.
The lockdown years marked a significant reset in my work where the changes in routine led to new ideas and concepts taking shape. I felt like a fresh start - a chance to rediscover and reinvent my approach.
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These new concepts have since found their way into my paintings. While the inspiration behind my work remains the same, a more abstract approach has emerged. There’s a new energy in these pieces - bolder, looser, and more expressive. They are about being fully present in the moment, capturing the feeling of joy as it unfolds.
I feel a newfound freedom and confidence in my practice. I experiment with different media and techniques, pushing beyond my previous boundaries. The music I listen to has changed as well—it's louder, more upbeat, and fills the studio with energy. I dance, I play, and I explore. This sense of play has become an integral part of my process, infusing my work with a liveliness and spontaneity.
