Nao McDowell

Nao McDowell is a contemporary British landscape artist based in London, though she is often found, whenever possible, on a coastal path or beach along the British coastline. Growing up living between the Yorkshire Dales and Moors, Nao developed a deep love for the natural world, which she explored in all seasons with her family and their Black Labrador through long hikes and holidays around the British Isles. She further nurtured this love by studying Ecology at the University of East Anglia, before pursuing two years of post graduate artistic studies at Oxford Brookes University. In her spare time, she enjoys cups of tea in the studio, beach days, wild swimming, and sailing with her family.

Nao draws inspiration from her interpretation of the environment, often photographing and sketching en plein air. She then works on large canvases in her London studio to capture the colours and patterns she observes. Her paintings of the British coastline are characterised by vibrant colours, sculptural layers of oil paint, and unconventional perspectives.