Country and Contemporary are working alongside Norwich School in this exciting new residency with portrait artist, Rosie Phillips. Country and Contemporary are particularly excited about the Open Studios of this residency, offering opportunities to talk to the artist during the creative process. With Rosie, we hope to be reminded of what art really is all about.
Ian Passam, Head of Art and Design at Norwich School, shares, “This is a wonderful opportunity for the school to welcome a young, gifted artist at the beginning of a very exciting journey!”
We hear about Norwich-born artist Rosie Phillips and what her residency will hold.
Where did your love of art begin?
"Since birth! I have always been drawn to hands on, arty projects of all kinds. My second love was reading and writing, among all kinds of other stuff. I was never bored as a kid - I would be drawing or painting at any chance I got and roping my friends or family into brainstorming sessions. I also used to spend a lot of time at this after school kid’s club because my parents would be working, so I would just be at the art table, completely in the zone. I credit that place so much for everything that’s happened since!"
Can you tell us a little about your art as well as your creative history?
"I primarily work with oil paint and the majority of my work is figurative. I would describe my paintings as an observation of internal states and body language. Often I am trying to represent a specific moment or feeling - they tend to be scenes from my own life, though I have found that many people have been able to connect to certain elements, which I find fascinating. I’ll rarely know what exactly I’m looking for until I observe a particular stance, interaction, or scene that I’m suddenly drawn to preserve.
I started sharing my art online around 12, and from there, I would spend a lot of my time working on projects in and out of school, such as producing illustrations for a YA novel and taking part in my first exhibition in Holt Hall at 14. During college I came to know and learn from some truly amazing local artists and started to really think about building a career as a painter - It just felt like a no brainer. The following year I’d completed my first few commissions, and to my utter shock, I also managed to sell a 4 foot portrait of my grandad which was hanging in the art cafe I worked in at the time. This encouraged me to focus on creating original paintings, which resulted in a portrait of my dad and dog winning the emerging artist prize and being commended for the Sir John Hurt art prize at Holt Festival in 2021, which was followed by an exhibition at The Gallery Holt. I have continued to build a body of work since, including commissions from around the world, selling, exhibiting around London and Norfolk. In 2022, I was a contestant on Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year, where my portrait of Big Zuu was shortlisted by the judges. Last summer, my painting ‘Babs’ won the Jackson’s Painting Prize Animal Award, exhibiting at Affordable Art Fair Hampstead and Bankside Gallery."
What does your residency entail?
"The Crypt will be my studio for the next month as I meet and conduct portrait sittings with the staff and pupils of Norwich School, as well as the wider community of the Cathedral Close, investigating the area’s rich history whilst also highlighting moments and interactions from the present-day. The hope is to use my practice as a tool for preserving the stories, people and animals that make this place so special. During my time at The Crypt Gallery, we will be running a series of open studio / Q&A events between the 5 - 8th February (please note that there are limited spaces so you will need to book, please email paulvater@contemporaryandcountry.com). The residency will finish with a public exhibition of work created during this period free to visit between the 10 - 15th February. Please visit https://www.contemporaryandcountry.com or https://www.cryptgallery.space for more information."
What are you most excited for in your residency?
"I can’t wait to meet more of the characters that shape the close - especially Budge the Cathedral cat! I suppose I’m not too sure what to expect yet, which is exciting in itself. I’m really enjoying this new investigative angle that my work is taking, and am looking forward to seeing how this experience shapes my practice moving forwards."
What are the challenges of being an artist?
"Not biting off more than I can chew! There are SO many rabbit holes to go down with art, so many things to try, so many projects to juggle. I have to be really mindful to not overwhelm myself, but I’d say I’ve definitely improved in this area over the last couple of years. Getting enough sleep is a big one too! I’ve spent so much time up in the early hours because I can’t pull myself away from a painting. Taking the time to be creative whilst also juggling applications, marketing, finance, emails, etc is tricky. Being an artist can feel like ten jobs in one sometimes but I wouldn’t be doing anything else."
Who/what do you draw inspiration from?
"Some of my favourite contemporary and historical artists include Lisa Brice, Rachel Jones, Megan Dominescu, Blindboy Boatclub, Ania Hobson, Gustav Klimt, Alphonse Mucha, Ingres and Velasquez. I’m inspired by the dynamic between people and animals, particularly in the context of domestic life, as well as my own various memories and experiences. Recently, I have been inspired by the practice of art as a tool for storytelling and preserving folklore as well as observing patterns of human behaviour."
Is there a particular piece of work that you are proudest of?
"‘Babs’ has a special place in my heart - It was a spur of the moment sitting of my dog, created from my living room, and every time I look at it I feel like I’m having some sort of unspoken conversation with her, much like I do in real life. It went on to win the Jackson’s Art Prize Animal Award a month or so later and now lives in London after selling at Affordable Art Fair and exhibiting at Bankside Gallery last summer, so definitely a proud moment."
What do you want people to take away from your work?
"Like most artists I hope that people can connect with my work in some way. I like to think that it promotes connection and humanity. Some people have told me that it has stirred their own memories, which I find really cool. It’s always hard to predict the response each painting is going to get until I share it, but I’m always happy to hear when my work bears personal significance to people."
What are your hopes/aspirations for the future in terms of your creative career?
"I try to keep my plans flexible as things have always unfolded in such unexpected ways, but I absolutely have a few. It would be a dream come true to get into the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Award (Formerly the BP portrait award) at The National Portrait Gallery, and I’d love to go for PAOTY again. International exhibitions too! I am already loving my time at Norwich Cathedral and so would really love to complete a similar residency abroad at some point, I know there are some incredible scholarships around Europe and I really thrive outside of my usual habitat. In terms of my practice, I would like to expand into larger, multi-subject figurative paintings, and draw more upon anecdotes and personal/local history. It would be great to collaborate on more projects - Last year I worked on an album cover with a friend and had so much fun. I suppose I just hope that things will continue to flow and I’ll be able to collect more of these incredible experiences."
Make sure you don't miss out on Rosie Phillips exclusive Open Studios, to book your place click here.