Sorrel Wills
Sorrel Wills
“My current work for Hambly and Hambly is inspired by my travels and they include many examples of my impressions of Enniskillen. It is such a charming and welcoming town with an independent, proud spirit, which I have enjoyed immensely on my visits.
“I work in a representative impressionist style, mostly in oils enjoying the textures and contrasts achieved with expressive brush marks and palette knives. All kinds of subject matter can inspire, but it is the effect of light that inspires -The atmospheric feeling. This is often a landscape for me, but it can also be flowers, or a sunlit interior. I paint restful, contemplative and joyous moments of the everyday, and celebrate the beauty that is present within our contemporary surroundings. Sometimes, we are so busy living, we forget to see.
“The contrasts of light and shadows on any of my subjects are an ever evolving interest. and I also explore how relationships between colour temperatures can intensify the sense of the light/shade also. Plein air painting has become an important part of my practice, although I am equally happy in my studio work.” Sorrel Wills
Sorrel is the current President of the Pastel Society of Ireland. She is a Past President of the Ulster Society of Women Artists (elected 2018), an organisation that celebrates the many talented women artists in Northern Ireland.
She was commissioned by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to do a painting of the New Coronation Garden, designed by celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin to be presented to King Charles and Queen Camilla. The painting is now in the Royal Collection.
The Council then commissioned another painting of the opposite view of the same garden. Much of the work was done en plein air, then finished in the studio.
Contact Hambly & Hambly if you are interested in a private portrait or landscape commission by Sorrel.
Awards
The Lily Davies Award for best newcomer 2017 at the Ulster Society of Women Artists (USWA) Annual Exhibition.
The Past Presidents Award 2019 at the USWA Annual Exhibition.
Art & Home Framing Award 2021 at the USWA Annual Exhibition.
Award for the Best Work by a non member 2019 at the Pastel Society of Ireland Annual Exhibition.
2023 Finalist for the John Richardson French Residency Award
2024 Finalist for the John Richardson French Residency Award
