Alli Gray

Alli is a painter with an interest in abstraction. Born in Glasgow, she studied at Glasgow Caledonian University, graduating with an Honours Degree in Communication Arts. She has exhibited throughout Scotland and in London.

“Semi-abstraction has always held a great appeal, and for me the excitement lies where both figuration and abstraction meet. Emphasising structure, movement and form allows me to explore the symbolic nature of shape to draw analogies between our inner world and the landscape.

Powerful rhythms of negative and positive patterns reveal themselves, describing a strength and tension which counter expressive, fluid and ever-changing elements. The structural integrity of each composition, symbolising strength and resilience, provides a visual framework to communicate both the physical and spiritual, describing how we perceive and navigate the space around us. Strength, hope and optimism are the values which I hope to bring alive when I paint.

My working method begins with sketching, and the excitement and emotional response to each new scene is something that never leaves me. The development of my initial sketches takes an exploratory and intuitive approach, and the versatility of oil paint is perfect for this. Experimenting during the early stages and allowing myself the freedom to try new ideas has been a wonderful rediscovery of the simple joy of painting.”