About Rebecca

“When I first saw Rebecca’s work, it reminded me of the primitive art of the early 19 th Century – her paintings are not primitive but they are simplicity of design. They also bring to mind the aerial views of houses and gardens painted in the 17 th century by Dutch artists. She has traditional influences but her execution is modern. Her distinctive style and English quirkiness echoes the work of 20 th- century artists Rex Whistler and Oliver Messel. Her paintings are highly decorative and beautifully composed – really, they’re murals in a small format. Her technique is very accomplished and her paintings are full of subtleties that make you look twice. They are very well priced too but, most importantly they make me smile.”

Dendy Easton, Fine Art expert, Antiques Roadshow. Former Director, Sotheby’s.

Rebecca Campbell’s delightful, enigmatic and highly imaginative paintings evoke a world of plants and animals that appear to be happily confined within the boundaries of their own contented universe. Add a vivid sense of design that instantly captures the eye and you have paintings that project immense appeal.

She was born in Stamford and grew up in Ireland where as a child she was surrounded by gardens and animals, helped by the fact her mother was a keen gardener. But it was her three months in India that fired her imagination, in particular for Mughal miniatures with their rich earth colours and bold designs. This influence remains the bedrock of much of her work.

In 1991 she started a business producing hand painted furniture and murals, for which she found a ready market, but she felt it too restrictive for her artistic talents and turned her attention to full time painting, though she undertakes commissions for murals. In 2002 she held her first solo London exhibition at the Park Walk Gallery followed by a second in 2004 with the delightful title, The Enchanted Garden. Her next solo show was in Burford, Oxfordshire, all these exhibitions were very successful and established her reputation as a main stream player in the field of decorative arts.

Brian Sinfield 2005

Since this was written Rebecca has now had several solo shows in London with Jonathan Cooper, Park Walk Gallery and Brian Sinfield, Burford, Oxfordshire. She has also shown internationally with solo shows in San Francisco, Mexico City, Houston, Texas and with a gallery In Toronto, Canada.

She was invited by the Chairman of the English Nation Opera to take part in Discerning Eye Exhibition at the Mall Galleries where she won the Discerning Eye Purchase Prize. Another invitation was to paint two life size model elephants for Elephant Parade, London 2010, the biggest public art event to take place in London ever. This is to raise money and awareness for the Asian elephant. Following that, she has just painted a tiger for Jungle City, Edinburgh, 2011 to raise money and awareness for several other endangered animals.

Rebecca’s next solo show will be with Jonathan Cooper in June 2012.

Cards and Prints

Rebecca’s work has been reproduced as cards by Canns Down Press (http://cannsdownpress.co.uk/rebecca_campbell.htm) and The Art File (www.theartfile.com/subcategory.asp?sid=157)

Commenting on the collection, Ged Mace, Managing Director of The Art File said: 

'We were instantly drawn to the detail and originality in Rebecca’s work. We love the quirkiness of each image and her colour pallet is gorgeous. The subtle humour will translate well onto greeting cards and we are confident that our customers will be attracted to the range as much as we were. The Art File is thrilled to be working with Rebecca and Bridgeman Art Library.’

Limited edition prints are available from Collier and Dobson, (http://www.collierdobson.com/gallery/prints/rebecca-campbell)

Curriculum Vitae

EXHIBITIONS

AWARDS
2005 Discerning Eye - Chairmans's Purchaser Prize

COMMERCIAL COMMISSIONS include:
Art Group
Boots
Canns Down Press
Collier and Dobson
Contrast Gallery, Hong Kong
Henry Bendells, New York
McKinsey & Co, London
MIK Ltd.
Museums and Galleries Publishing
Paperchase, London
Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon
Saks Fifth Avenue, New York
Shellys Shoes, London
Sheraton Hotel, Ethiopia
St George’s Hospital, Essex
Stewo, Switzerland
W. H. Smith
Woodmansterne Publishing

PRIVATE COMMISSIONS include:
Paintings, murals, panels, hand-painted furniture and design work.


BOOKS/ MAGAZINES/ PRESS
Decorative Frames by Juliet Bawden
Murals, Tromp l’oeil and Decorative by Lynette Wigley

Harpers & Queen; Homes & Gardens; Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms; Southwest Magazine, London; The Resident, London; The Sunday Telegraph; V&A Magazine; The Resident, The Lady; Oxford Times; Palo Alto Weekly, USA; De Tuin Exclusif, Holland; Country Life; The Week; BBC Homes and Antiques; Fabric; Town and Country.

Palo Alto The Weekly Weekend

EDUCATION
City and Guilds of London Art School, London
1984 - 1987 Illustrative Arts, 1st Class Honours