Lucille Smithson Art

I am a British South African portrait and figurative realist painter living in Los Angeles. I am keenly interested in people and their stories and aim to capture a psychological characterization in my work. 

 

Between 2020 and 2022, during the Covid-19 pandemic, I participated in Tom Croft's #portraitsfornhsheroes initiative and painted nurses and doctors in the United Kingdom, the USA, and South Africa. My intention was to give a face and a story to these incredible individuals highlighting how they were working behind the scenes in unimaginably challenging circumstances and putting their lives at risk to help others. The paintings were presented as gifts for their invaluable frontline service.  My work was featured on Sky News and mentioned in The Economist.

 

My painting, entitled Matthew and Sami (a married couple, both doctors in the UK), features in the Portraits for NHS book published by Bloomsbury, 2020.

I am currently working on a series of portraits of women who inspire me as a reaction to the increasing restrictions on women's rights in the USA. 
 

For commission enquiries please email via my contact tab. I am also contactable via Instagram @ Lucille Smithson Art.

 

Exhibitions

2024: The Society of Women Artists annual exhibition, Mall Galleries, UK

2024: Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, UK

2024: The Ebell of Los Angeles 'A woman's place' exhibition, USA

2023: The Kline Academy of Fine Art annual exhibition, USA

 

2022: SWA - The Society of Women Artists annual exhibition, Mall Galleries, UK

 

Interviews and writing
As a writer, and someone who sees myself as an evolving artist, I enjoy talking to and asking other artists about their creative process: What makes people create, how they work, where they find inspiration, the things that challenge them, etc. During the pandemic I created an Instagram page called @magic_8_art where I interviewed artists about how they were coping during this time and asking them about their process. The idea originated as a way of creating a sense of connection, community, encouragement and inspiration among artists at a time when many people felt very isolated. I continue to interview artists on this platform about their process and work. You can also see my previous interviews with artists here and my articles with Fashion Globe Magazine are here.

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