Anne of Cleves
“That’s the last time I’m going to wax my upper lip, get over it. And you’re no oil painting yourself Henry. Just saying.” Anne of Cleves
2018
100x75 cm
White Coif
“Yes, one is bigger than the other, get over it. This studio is freezing and I’m not even getting the minimum wage. No idea what I can make for supper.” Woman with white linen coif
2018
100cm x 75cm
Countess Margit
“The hat has worn well. And I don't care what you think about the rest because I love it. That backbone has been holding me up nicely for some time now, and I wasn't young in 1905. Well done me.” Countess Margit
2018
100cm x 75cm
Mrs Pankhurst
“Revenge is a dish best eaten cold. The gloves, and corsets, are off. You should have done your history Mr Policeman. Book of Judith, Holofernes.” Emmeline Pankhurst
2018
100cm x 81cm
Avenda Burnell Walsh
Have we been misled about what is beautiful? Bombarded by images of apparent perfection, we appear to miss the beauty of soul. My current work looks back over figurative representations to re-evaluate the place of women in societies that demand beauty from them. These new portraits free the sitters of Holbein, Vermeer and Klimt from the constraints of corsets. The corsets are off, and they are not going back on. We still face stilettos, long nails and perfect hair, all self inflicted corsetry.