Life in colour - the artist’s perspective

17th May 2025,2 Minute read

For an artist, colour is more than just paint on a canvas; it’s a language, a philosophy, a statement of intent. Each artist harnesses colour in their own way to create impact, meaning, and energy. From intuitive palettes to layered techniques, here are just some of the ways in which your favourite artists transform colour into something truly personal.

Michael F. Rumsby: a reimagined world

Rumsby sees colour as a choice rather than a given. His process starts with photographs which he desaturates into black-and-white versions. Stripping a scene of its natural hues before reimagining it in his own bold and expressive palette is like retelling a story in his own words. For Rumsby, colour is not about what he sees, but how he feels.

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Jeffrey Pratt: the palette is everything

For Jeffrey Pratt, a great painting begins with a good palette. A lifetime of painting en plein air (out on location) has shown him that different locations demand different colours and sometimes he spends several hours creating the perfect palette. As the Denis Diderot quote on his studio wall reminds him: "You dip your brush in air and light and spread them on your canvas."

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Sherree Valentine-Daines:
The power of white

White is the final touch that brings Daines’ beautiful impressionistic scenes out of the shadows and into the light. Whether dressing her figures in white or using it to create a radiant glow, she sees it as an essential ingredient for luminosity. And yet, she never paints on white, but always begins with a coloured ground - a technique dating back to the Old Masters which allows the creation of depth and vibrancy with ease.

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Tim Fowler: colour as interpretation

“I used to question how I could enhance a flower’s representation, but I’ve come to understand that it’s not about improvement, but about interpreting the subject in my unique style.” Fowler’s distinctive approach to colour frees his subjects from reality. By using an electrifying palette, he makes us see them in a whole new way - his flowers are not just painted, they are reimagined

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Danielle O’Connor Akiyama: the glow beneath the surface

Every Akiyama painting begins with a wash of soft yellow, a hidden foundation that gives her work its signature glow. Light bounces from this unseen layer, infusing each piece with warmth and energy. She also paints with a personal language of symbols and colours - her blue circles signify protection, while red circles hint at change. Beneath every colour lies meaning, intention, and emotion.

From hidden washes to unexpected palettes, colour is never just colour. It is memory, movement, transformation, and identity. The secrets of these artists remind us that colour is not just something we see, it’s something we feel. Browse our portfolio and explore artworks full of colour and meaning!

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