STATEMENT Vivid freehand oil paintings that depict expressive faces, reminiscent of the twitching dazzle of paused TV screens when viewed from uncomfortable proximity, when the signal is unreliable, waking to a paused screen after an uncomfortable slumber on the sofa with a crick in the neck, cold feet and an inability to work out what time it is.. Domestic in scale, but far from homely, the paintings hint at these enigmatic narratives and uncertain relationships: are these characters alluring or confrontational? Both? They are intentionally fascinating and evocative.
With the help of unwitting accomplices captured from feature films and television screens, fleeting expressions become visible. My work is a celebration of processes; the journey of the image from one media into another, and sometimes back again. I pause video, take and edit digital photographs to create compositions, then print these ‘roughs’ out to work from, painting freehand in oils by observation using vibrant colour combinations to create compelling works. The self-sourced images hold a deep personal resonance: a moment of anticipation, reaction, above all drama.
I largely blend my colours on the canvas, using rich colours to create lighting effects. I aim to keep the immediate visual reactions to my chosen subject, as well as the autographic mark created by my brushstrokes, often rags and palette knives join in to assist the construction process. I work in oil paints because they remain malleable over time and have great colour intensity: they enable me to return to the studio to see a painting anew, and be able to persuade the colours into a fresh configuration, the better to capture the atmosphere.
I aim to intrigue and engage the viewer in equal measure – placing them into the middle of a situation, to join us in an experience that is relatable, empathetic and engaging.
BIO Viv Owen was born in Lancashire in 1970. After working in Graphic Design, she gained her BA in Art and Design in Bradford, her graduate exhibition combining digital manipulation with oil painting techniques to produce multiple panel portrait paintings, prints and glassware. She developed her working processes further with an MA at Leeds Metropolitan University.
Viv Owen has worked in Yorkshire studios since 2000, including Bradford, Hebden Bridge, Wakefield and currently Cooke Street Studios, Keighley (part of East Street Arts).
She has been an annual exhibitor with FLUX in London since their first edition in 2015. She is a member of ArtCan artists organisation and exhibits regularly with them in London. She exhibits regularly with Cupola Contemporary Art in Sheffield. In 2025, she has exhibited further afield with Redcar Contemporary and closer to home as part of ‘Turn Up’ at Trapezium Arts for Bradford City of Culture 2025.