Ellie Kerr-Smiley – Open Studios

9 to 25 May 2026

2 Ellie Kerr-Smiley

Art disciplines: Drawing and painting

My practice concerns itself with what it means to paint people. While my work involves traditional oil painting realism, I am less interested in the specific recreation of a person’s likeness; rather, my work either looks to capture a person as a whole, or to express a particular concept, feeling or idea. Often, the concept comes first and the sitter then follows. This is where the more abstract, whimsical and energetic qualities of my work comes in. I am always interested in expression and experimentation and finding the balance and lines where realism and abstraction can work together on the canvas to create a compelling portrait.