Susie Heyes
Susie Heyes is known for her atmospheric watercolour landscapes. She believes that landscapes can provide comfort and connection, helping to ground us in times of unease. Susie gains inspiration from landscapes local to her in West London as well as those she’s experienced on trips and holidays. She believes that both familiar and new places can bring comfort, and nature through art helps to create a sense of belonging.
Susie creates her graded watercolours by building up numerous washes letting each layer dry before adding the next. It is a mindful process involving constant vigilance making sure the surface of the paper is evenly wet to create the smooth gradations.
Susie’s landscapes aim to evoke the calmness she feels when creating them. Many of her paintings are influenced by Japanese art. The moon or sun often appears, representing hope, renewal and a sense of tranquillity.
‘Finding Calm’ and ‘Golden Silence’ are part of Susie’s latest ongoing series which incorporates gold and copper leaf into her watercolours. Gold, copper or silver leaf are important to her because they bring moments of brightness. They catch the light differently from all angles and that sense of change feels true to how Susie experiences different landscapes and emotional states: nothing is still: the influence of light reveals a forever changing image.
For Susie, rediscovering art has been key to her recovery from severe mental health challenges. Every brushstroke represents her healing journey, helping her focus, calm her mind and find purpose. Ultimately, the paintings in this series are an attempt to share the sense of calm that she feels through creating them.
Grateful to those who aided her recovery, Susie donates 10% of her profits to MIND, a mental health charity.
Across the Water
Bamburgh Castle
Fishing At Sunrise