






Susan Abbs
MediaDigital art, Drawing, Painting
Contact Susan
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Services
Commissions AcceptedYes
Tuition OfferedYes
Artist's StatementOriginally from Singapore, I have lived in the UK for over 30 years. In 2012, I became the first local artist-in-residence at Orleans House Gallery in Twickenham.
I am currently working on the series Light on the Horizon:
The world is a scary place - earthquake, world pandemic, raging wars, resources dwindling, climate deteriorating - but in the midst of the darkness, there is always light. Unlike my usual colourful artworks, this new series is dark and monochromatic. In 2019, at the cusp of the pandemic, I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. The experience was harrowing but no matter how bad and how dark, there was always light - my very supportive family and friends, close proximity to an amazing hospital, great studio space to isolate in etc. My cancer is now in remission and the world is bright and wonderful again. This series is very dark but it isn't really about the darkness but the shining light. We can't see the brightness of light without the contrast of darkness. The world and our lives might seem dark at the moment but change is coming and we can look forward to the coming light.
Also on view are my life drawings and paintings in various media as well as my iPad drawings, all done live.
I teach art in my studio in Cambridge as well as life drawing at Hills Road College. I have exhibited in various fairs, exhibitions and galleries such as Cambridge Contemporary, and my work can be found in the Cambridge Art Book.
Art StyleContemporary, Monochrome
Art SubjectsAbstract, Landscape, Cityscape, Seascape, Figurative
Art Materialsoils, acrylic, watercolour, charcoal, pen, ink, paper, canvas
Susan Abbs's Portfolios
Parklife
“I really wanted to react to the pandemic and how it has affected us, but in a positive way. During the pandemic, we saw more people than wildlife in the woods and parks - families out for walks as part of their daily exercise, people training their pandemic puppies, or friends jogging. This is one positive result of the pandemic - it has brought families and friends out, together. As with most of my landscapes, activities within them are not always obvious. I invite my viewers to walk into my paintings to discover a family, a dog walker, rabbits etc.”
Skygazing
Skygazing is a series of skyscapes painted on copper and aluminium:
“Having lived in cities and been surrounded by skyscrapers most of my life, I was overwhelmed by the huge expense of sky when I first moved to Cambridge. The spectacular daily vista has inspired me to paint this series of quiet skyscapes. Skygazing is an escape and a reaction to the chaos and anarchy of today’s world - jingoism, terrorism, Trumpism, Brexit... “
iPad Art
My iPad art are created lived, on location, and printed on archival Paper.