Renewal: an exhibition of vibrant, fresh and restorative artworks
Exclusive new paintings and linocuts by 6 contemporary female artists
The Art Buyer Collective is thrilled to announce its inaugural exhibition, “Renewal”,
showcasing the works of 6 selected contemporary female artists. This vibrant
exhibition will take place from 3rd – 14th April at The Art Buyer Gallery.
With the imminent possibility of warmth and lighter days, the exhibition promises a
diverse range of fresh and restorative artworks that all stem from the artists’
responses to the natural world. Our invited artists explore the beauty and awe
found in everyday life; from the play of light on a still life through to the raw beauty
of rural landscapes.
With curatorial input from The Art Buyer, the exhibition includes paintings and
original linocuts created by 6 contemporary female artists from Surrey and London in the UK.
We’re delighted to introduce Sarah Cox, Catherine McVean, Joanne Olney, Joanne
Last, Claire Chandler and Diana Croft.
Expect to see abstract and representational artworks infused with evocative
colours, dancing light and energetic brush strokes, embracing the joyous arrival of
Spring. Let’s introduce you to the six selected female artists:
Lemons on Blue by Catherine McVean
Catherine McVean
Catherine is a professional artist best known for her still life oil paintings which she
describes as quiet celebrations of everyday life. Living overseas highlighted how
important the seasons are to her and how far our sense of time and place is defined
by the seasonal changes around us. Catherine loves the anticipation of each
season, the changing light and transient nature of the fresh produce and plants
available at that time. Catherine’s still life paintings celebrate that transience and
those small moments of beauty found in daily life.
Having painted throughout her life, in 2019 she started painting professionally and
in 2021 started painting with oils. Catherine was captivated by the rich colours and
slow drying time and oils are now her passion and focus. Catherine is primarily selftaught, but has taken a number of short courses at Heatherleys, London Art College
and Central St Martins.
Catherine started her career as a strategy and business consultant working in London, Brussels and Oman. Over the past 10 years, Catherine has lived in the UK, Oman and New Zealand but moved back to the UK in 2020 and now paints full
time from her studio in Ascot. Catherine McVean www.catherinemcvean.com Instagram @catherinemcveanart
St Just Cornwall by Sarah Cox
Sarah Cox
Sarah Cox is a contemporary semi-abstract artist living in Guildford, Surrey.
She works from her garden studio creating landscape and coastal paintings in
acrylic and spray paint on canvas.
Sarah responds intuitively to each of the landscapes that she has walked, seeking
to capture the elemental nature and energy of a place rather than to record a literal
interpretation.
As a colourist, she enjoys capturing the rhythms of seasonal change.
Sarah’s paintings are bursting with energy. Expect to see gestural mark-making,
dripping paint and built up layers of paint which have been scraped back of time.
Sarah studied Fine Art and gained a BA (Hons) Degree in Manchester. She then
went on to undertake a PGCE Secondary Art Education at Westminster College,
University of Oxford.
Sarah says ‘As a secondary school art teacher, I work with some incredible young
people who share my passion. This helps me to keep my own work vibrant and
fresh.’
Sarah Cox www.sjcoxart.co.uk Instagram @sjcoxart.co.uk
The Light Shifts by Joanne Last
Joanne Last
Joanne was born in Surrey and has lived in and around London all her life. She
originally trained as a classical pianist, but coming from a family of artists has
pursued both disciplines throughout her career. She exhibits widely in the UK and
has undertaken numerous public space commissions around the world. Working
intuitively and experimentally – Joanne’s work takes on many forms – abstract,
urban, coastal, and this latest series of paintings sees a reignited passion for
landscape.
The driving force of all her work is in the process – she works fast and freely,
layering paint, building texture, finding colour surprises, and creating a rich
satisfying surface from many iterations to arrive at a point of completion. The
constant reinvention and boldness, the willingness to risk and always strive for
difference, makes for paintings that are both energising and calm.
Joanne Last www.joannelast.co.uk Instagram @joannelast
Japanese Garden by Diana Croft
Diana Croft
Diana Croft is a printmaker, painter and stained glass artist based in Dorking.
She originally trained in illustration at Brighton University in the 1980’s and
then worked in London, teaching printmaking and editioning complicated
multi-plate etchings and collagraphs for the printmaker Brenda Hartill.
She moved to Dorking just before the millennium returning to a life in the
country – she grew up in Whitstable overlooking farmland.
She draws much of her inspiration from the local environment of the Surrey
Hills and the South Downs and has produced a series of stylised linocuts
based on this distinctive landscape.
A love of travel has also influenced her work particularly in her use of strong,
vibrant colour.
In 2015 and 2019 she was shortlisted for the Surrey Artist of the Year and in
2018 she was delighted to have a solo exhibition at the Watts Contemporary
Gallery.
She is a long time member of the Greenwich Printmakers co-operative and a
co-ordinator for the Surrey Artists Open Studios scheme which she has
participated in ever since it started.Diana Croft www.dianacroftart.com
Instagram @dianacroftart
Renewal by Jo Olney
Joanne Olney
Joanne Olney, a British media artist based in the Surrey Hills, initially pursued an
art foundation course at Goldsmith’s University in London but later transitioned to
train as an Occupational Therapist. Throughout her therapeutic career, she
maintained a strong interest in creativity, participating in various educational
pursuits such as City & Guilds courses in textiles and professional photography.
It wasn’t until her retirement in 2018 that Joanne had the opportunity to explore
painting and, more recently, experimental printmaking. Her artistic style is delicate
and semi-impressionistic, currently focused on examining the intricate balance of
life cycles. Joanne’s work often delves into contemplative themes, touching on
reflections on impermanence and considerations of legacy.
Joanne Olney
www.joanneolney.com
Instagram @joanneolneyart
Bloom by Claire Chandler
Claire Chandler
Claire Chandler is an abstract painter, living in Carshalton Surrey. She explores the
connection between nature and a sense of place. She spent much of her childhood
living abroad, which later developed into a love of travel and experiencing new
places. Claire studied at the University of Northumbria, Newcastle, graduating with
a BA(Hons) Fine Art in 1997.
Her paintings start with charcoal drawings made on location, in response to the
landscape. Elements from these drawings are then pared back, simplified and
worked into with layers of colour emerging as abstract paintings made with energy
and emotion.
Claire has exhibited in London, Paris & New York and has paintings in permanent
collections around the world.
Claire Chandler
www.clairechandler.co.uk
Instagram @clairechandlerart
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The exhibition will be open between 10am and 4pm from Wednesday 3rd April until
Sunday 14th April. Monday 8th April by appointment only.