The British Artists You Need On Your Radar
By
1 year ago
Emerging talent and established names to know
Searching for the next Hockney? Looking for exciting artworks to invest in? Exhibitions from up-and-coming names to visit? These are some of the most exciting British artists working today – from painters to abstractionists and big names in the digital art space; both big names and rising stars.
The British Artists You Need On Your Radar
The Body Remembers, Heather Agyepong, (c) Myah Jeffer
Heather Agyepong
London-based visual artist Heather Agyepong has been making a name for herself in the world of photographic and performance arts since 2009. She focuses on themes of mental health, wellbeing and invisibility, aiming to create cathartic experiences for both herself and for the viewer. Last year, she created The Body Remembers at Battersea Arts Centre, a piece of performance art which explored the trauma experienced by Black women. heatheragyepong.com
Sophie Tea
If you’re on Instagram, you’ll no doubt have seen Sophie Tea’s vibrant, glittery works pop up on your feed at some point. The ultimate millennial artist, she rose to fame via social media – but it wasn’t long before the likes started to translate into sales. Sophie is known for her female nude paintings (or ‘nudies’ as she calls them), with a focus on celebrating a diverse range of body types. In the past couple of years, she’s had a pop-up gallery on Carnaby Street, hosted an exhibition at ME London, and recently ventured into the world of NFTs. sophieteaart.com
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Andrew Pierre Hart
Sound is fundamental to the work of Andrew Pierre Hart. Prior to studying painting, he ran a record label specialising in electronic music, and while studying at the Royal College of Art, he developed a theory of ‘Sonic Ordering’: an underlying and ever-present sonic architecture at the baseline of perception. Nowadays Pierre Hart’s works explore the symbiotic relationship between sound and painting. In 2021, he exhibited at Frieze Art Fair in London with Tiwani Contemporary, which saw his painted works quickly sell out. andrewpierrehart.com
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Camilla Jane Gittins
After growing up on a farm in Wales, Camilla Jane Gittins studied embroidery at Manchester College of Art & Design. Soon after graduating, she moved to Amsterdam, where she currently lives and works, creating abstract paintings from her studio. Camilla is inspired by nature, with her works reacting to the ever-changing landscapes of land, sea and sky. She uses a bold colour palette, working across a variety of mediums including acrylic, pastel, embroidery and spray paint. camillagittins.com
Josef O’Connor
During lockdown, British-Irish artist Josef O’Connor set up Circa, a new platform dedicated to showcasing digital art. This saw the adverts on the Piccadilly Circus billboards paused for two minutes every evening to present new artistic ideas, displaying works from the likes of Ai Weiwei, Patti Smith, Tony Cokes, Cauleen Smith and Eddie Peake. Since then, it has grown into a global phenomenon, taking over screens all over the world. Last summer, Marina Abramović presented The Hero: a global call for courageous new heroes at a pivotal moment in our collective history. circa.art
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Lydia Blakeley
From racecourses to dog shows and alcohol-fuelled nights out, Yorkshire-based artist Lydia Blakeley is known for her paintings of typically British scenes. Her 2018 show at Leeds Art University, You’re Doing Amazing Sweetie, explored the banality of celebrity homes and reality TV, and during lockdown she took part in Everyday Heros, an outdoor exhibition celebrating key workers. Her largest UK installation to date launched at Southwark Park Galleries in 2022, The High Life. It looked at the digital realm of escapism during a period of crisis, linking the 1995 Microsoft advertising campaign ‘Where do you want to go today?’ to the Covid-19 pandemic, where we had to experience the world through the internet. southwarkparkgalleries.org
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Jake Wood-Evans
English artist Jake Wood-Evans is influenced by the works of the Old Masters, from Turner to Stubbs; Gainsborough to Poussin. Known for his ethereal oil paintings, he aims to capture historic works without replicating them, creating works that are both beautiful and unsettling. Wood-Evans has exhibited in galleries across the UK and London, as well as at international art fairs. jakewoodevans.com
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Jadé Fadojutimi
Paintings by London-born artist Jadé Fadojutimi are often large-scale, with colours, shapes and lines commingling in vibrant ways. She has exhibited all over the world, and is now represented by the world’s largest gallery, Gagosian, with an installation of works set to launch at the gallery’s Frieze London booth this October. Jade draws on a range of influences for her work, from Japanese anime to music and 20th-century painting, creating vibrant, abstract masterpieces. In a statement describing her art, Fadojutimi said, ‘Human. Animal. Natural. We all have souls; objects too. We are all beauty, and that is what is encapsulated by the word life.’ jadefadojutimi.com
Main image: Sophie Tea
