Emily Patrick

About Emily Patrick

Emily Patrick is an English figurative painter.  She paints in oil and tempera on gesso on plywood.  Her subjects are 'quiet interiors and unshowy portraits or still life's yet with strong, highly detailed brushwork and unusual, rich coloration.' 

Emily grew up on a farm in Kent, England and has had no art school training but studied architecture at New Hall before becoming a painter.  Patrick’s breakthrough came in 1986 when she had a solo exhibition at Agnew’s.  This exhibition was the first in their history to sell out within three days and was the first of four successful shows that she had with them in 1989, 1992 and 1995.

In 1987, she was commissioned to paint Diana, Princess of Wales for the Royal Hampshire Regiment.  In 1988 she exhibited as a finalist in the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery and in 1989 she won the Carroll Foundation Award of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters for the most promising portrait by an artist under 30 years old.

Since 1995 she has had a further four solo exhibitions (1997, 2000, 2002, 2005) in London and New York City to increasing critical acclaim. Her 2005 exhibition was labelled "critic’s choice" in The Times and "the best of what’s on" in The Financial Times.

The Artist with her Daughter Beatrice [1990]
Oil on wood, 61 x 81 cms
Donated by the artist 1992.

The sensitive application of paint and subtle tones in this work are reminiscent of the Euston Road School.  The rope frame was made by the artist and might be interpreted as a further symbol of the bond between the mother and daughter.