Rachael Dewhirst

Rachael Dewhirst is an emerging artist who creates paintings that explore chance and spontaneity. Expressionist in her technique, Dewhirst's canvases sit between abstraction and representation offering moments of symbolism amid impasto applications and translucent washes. The energy the artist injects into her paint application translates to bold and optimistic paintings that demonstrate a joy and pleasure in the act of painting.

As the artist describes: “I love the process of painting… but a lot happens by chance… for me the best work is made when I am fearless…”

Many of Dewhirst's paintings offer a collage like aesthetic, reminiscent of Matisse, with the use of masking and layered cut-out shapes. In Dewhirst’s most recent pieces, she takes inspiration from wilder New Zealand landscapes. Mountains, Swanndri and floral motifs are incorporated into her canvases. Her intention is to relay the feeling of exhilaration and energy felt in nature through the application of paint.

Rachael Dewhirst gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons). She has work in the James Wallace Trust collection and the University of Canterbury collection.