"I am a colourist. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a blank piece of canvas turn into a colourful painting, transforming space and adding character to an interior, bringing a sense of visual harmony, serenity and tranquility."
“When I have my coffee and breakfast in the morning, I see my painting on the wall in my living room - it brings me immense joy and peace from within and it sets my day on a good start. I would love for my paintings to do the same for you in your living or working space.”
About Winnie
Hi! My name is Winnie Chan and I am a British acrylic and oil Modern Fine Art Painter based in London. I was originally born in Hong Kong. From the age of 4, I love to draw and paint and I would always bring a pen, crayons and a sketchbook with me wherever I’d go. During my primary school years, I received a number of awards in regional painting competitions, as well as in both Chinese and English calligraphy contests. Later on in my childhood, my family relocated to London where I further developed my artistic skills. I excelled at Art in school. It was my wish to study art in university but instead pursued an academic education and career in Medicine. I began my working life as a junior doctor, however art remains my passion and through the years I have not stopped painting in my free time. Most importantly, I experienced love, peace and joy through painting. I believe in the therapeutic benefits of creating art. Specifically, that the process of self-expression helps to relax the mind, resolve internal emotional conflicts and restore cognitive function. In 2019, I made the decision to become a full-time artist to follow my passion. I have been building up a personal art portfolio and you can view my artwork here:
Artist Statement
My main choice of medium is acrylic or oil on canvas. I would classify my paintings between Modern Realism and painterliness. I also experiment with Abstract art. I draw inspiration from nature and often it is during my walks in my local park when I develop ideas for my artwork. Themes for my paintings are centred on: sky-, sea-, land- and cityscapes, flowers, wildlife, architectures, people and places.
Colour is my visual vocabulary. I like to use vibrant colours to bring out the beauty that I see in everyday life or during travels. The colour palettes that I choose create balance and harmony that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
"I am a colourist. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a blank piece of canvas turn into a colourful painting, transforming space and adding character to an interior, bringing a sense of visual harmony, serenity and tranquility."
Fascinated by light, in my paintings I try to capture natural sunlight and its effects on the visual image as a whole. On my colour palette I love to mix my paints to bring out the different hues and nuanced tones that I observe.
“I am a story teller. Every single piece of my artwork has a meaning behind it.” My art is about connecting my inner emotions, feelings and thoughts with the viewer of my paintings. You may find me combining bright colours as well as black and white tones in one painting - to portray mixed emotions about a memory of a place or a life circumstance. One might hold joyful and fond memories of a home city while at the same time feeling nostalgic and dissonant because they are living far away on the other side of the globe. Some of my art bring out such paradoxical expressions which anyone of us may hold in life. This is especially a prominent trait in some of my works reminiscent of my birth place, Hong Kong.
Although I often work from photographs taken by myself, I do not aim to merely copy the photograph onto canvas with paint. Instead, I extract the overall compositions and perspective within these photographs, and I bring out the most prominent features and colours from the foreground and background in order to create a sense of depth.
Another important element of my art is my love for creating textures. I experiment with various brush strokes, pointillism and using a palette knife.
“When I have my coffee and breakfast in the morning, I see my painting on the wall in my living room - it brings me immense joy and peace from within and it sets my day on a good start. I would love for my paintings to do the same for you in your living or working space.”
Biography
I have a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree and an intercalated research degree in maternal and foetal health from Guy's, King’s and St Thomas' School of Medicine. Throughout medical school, I volunteered for CSV (Community Service Volunteers) Go-London in their art projects. I once led a volunteer group of 60 university students to complete two large murals in a local primary school. In 2005, I undertook a short course in life drawing and still life painting at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. In 2015, I obtained an Interior Design Diploma from the Interior Design Institute. Since 2019, I have been devoting my free time as a Volunteer Arts Activity Assistant (Creative Support Organisation, UK) for vulnerable adults in Stepney Green, London. In June 2023, I was granted a Volunteer Appreciation Award for my continuous service in enriching the lives of the elderly through holding a regular Arts and Crafts group and giving constructive feedback to each individual’s artwork. My artworks have been showcased in four selected exhibitions and you can find out more about them below.
Art Exhibitions
2022
“Bethlem Art Fair” at Bethlem Gallery, London, UK
2021
“Hope, Fear and Dreams” at The Engine Room, London, UK
2020
“Beauty from Brokenness” at The Unveiling Arts Festival, London, UK
2019
“Truth and Light” at St Stephen Walbrook Church, London, UK
The art exhibition, “Hope, Fear and Dreams”, coincided with the World Mental Health Day in 2021. This event raised awareness of mental health issues and the importance of art therapy in healing our hearts and minds. For more information on this art exhibition, please click the button below: