'Growing up in Oxfordshire has given me a love for all things countryside, and in the early years the subject matter for most of my commissions was sporting kit; horseracing, cricket, shooting, fishing, polo and golf. Old leather, wood and metal, challenged me to acquire the “You can smell it” or “Pick it up” accolade.'
- Harriet Gosling
Harriet Gosling trained for three years (1986 to 1989) at Studio Cecil-Graves, Italy, where she studied and practised the traditional classical ‘Sight-Size’ technique used by the Old Masters. A year was spent perfecting skills in charcoal, pencil and the subtleties of ‘Chiaroscuro’ (light and shade) before progressing to oils.
After her studies in Florence ended, she drove her VW beetle packed with nude drawings, cast paintings and beautifully made empty frames to fill, traditionally crafted by fourth or fifth generation artisans, back to England. She had secured various commissions and had found her vocation.
Her first studio was the top floor of a barn on her family’s farm. Now she has converted an old cattle yard and has created her own studio, where she spends most of her time.
Growing up in Oxfordshire gave Harriet a love for all things countryside, and towards the start of her career, the subject matter of most of her commissions was sporting kit; horseracing, cricket, shooting, fishing, polo, and golf. Old leather, wood and metal, challenged her to acquire the ‘you can smell it’ or ‘pick it up’ accolade.
She spends as much time as possible doing what she loves most, working from life as she was taught at Studio Cecil Graves. She visits local antique markets and reclamation yards to find the most interest, unique and paintable objects to compose her next piece.
Since returning to England Harriet has spent most of her time working on commissioned still-life and portraits in oil, pencil, pastel and charcoal. She has exhibited in various mixed shows namely at Burlington Galleries, Alexandra Williams Pictures, Animal Art Fair, The Game Fair and Henley Festival, with ‘The Essentials’ sporting limited edition print runs selling worldwide.