Anna Thompson

Having been brought up with all sorts of animals, predominantly horses, I have long been fascinated by country life, fairgrounds and the world of the circus. I want to capture the expression, reactions and spirit of my subjects rather than use a photo-realistic approach. I like to paint from observation and memory in order to give the work a sense of vitality and freedom.

Both my parents have been a major influence on my work. My father is a wheelwright and carriage builder, and my mother is a carriage painter, so from an early age I have been surrounded by the business of making and painting.

I am interested in bringing a more modern and contemporary style of painting to very traditional subjects.

I work mainly in oils on canvas using a broad spectrum of colour… often with a strong sense of light and shade, though I sometimes use pastels for a more subtle, muted effect. I choose oils for their strong, vibrant colours and switch between pallet knife and brush to create a range of textures. The scale of my work varies according to the subject matter, though I mostly enjoy working on large pieces.