Melinda Kenneway – portfolio

Contact the artist

https://www.melindakenneway.com
07921 123542
melinda@melindakenneway.com

Artist information

I grew up in the Kent countryside with a love of myths and legend, fuelled by Tolkien, C S Lewis and Andrew Lang. This gave me a sense of magic and romance that has stayed with me through life. Now based just outside of Oxford, I paint with oils in a style that is sometimes called ‘magical realism’ – portraiture and figurative art in natural and semi-fantastical settings. I aim to create paintings that are whimsical and thoughtful, with pre-raphaelite influences. My technique is similar to that of the old masters, which requires putting down many layers and finishing with transparent glazes to add colour and depth. It’s a time-consuming but hugely rewarding technique that gives oil paintings a glow that cannot otherwise be achieved. Having drawn extensively through my childhood and with an encouraging mother who taught botanical illustration at Kew, it was expected I would go to art school. But life took a more academic turn and instead I headed to Oxford to study Experimental Psychology and after that a career in academic publishing. But drawing stayed with me and in later life I have studied oil painting at the University of Arts, London and been mentored by a leading contemporary portrait artist – helping me bring the world in my head to life through paint. Please visit my website for paintings currently availability and I also welcome commission enquiries.