INTERVIEWING BRITISH ARTIST TIFFANY LYNCH 🇬🇧

Today we present our interview with Team Art5 artist Tiffany Lynch.

Art5: Where do you live?

I live in magical Brighton! 

Art5: How many years have you been an artist? 

I have been making art since I was a child. My first masterpiece was a chalk drawing of sky, stars and planets age 3 along the hall wall at home!

I studied at Central St Martins School of Art and Design in London during the late 1990s.

Art5: How many years have you been with ART5? 

I have been showing work with Art5 for about 5 years.

Art5: How did your relationship with ART5 start; we contacted you or vice versa?

Art5 contacted me, which was a dream come true to exhibit in a Brighton gallery - my hometown.

Art5: What would you call your style of art?

My paintings are inspired by uplifting moments, sea swimming, walks on the South Downs and bike rides under the white cliffs always fuelled by dusk skies and sublime colour thus my paintings have a dreamy edge to them- trying to capture moments in time of beauty, moments that uplift the soul and being.

Art5: Did you study in an art school or were you self-taught?

I studied in St Martins School of Art and Design 

Art5: What did you study?

I studied illustration, a BA Hons and received a first class hons and a Post grad first class HONS and MA

Art5: Is painting a full-time job or do you do another thing?

I have worked as a self-employed artist for various London based publishers  Penguin books, Camden Graphics, John Lewis and won the Brighton Habitat Art Project and have been nominated for the British Contemporary Finalist 2021  

Art5: If you also do something else, what is it?

I am lucky to be a working mum, my daughter Scarlett is an inspiration and budding artist, she has a talent for colour work too.

Art5: Have you always been an artist?

Yes, always.

Art5: What are your hobbies?

Sea swimming, Wild Swimming, yoga, cycling, cross country running and singing all fuel my painting

Art5: Where do you paint?

I share a studio - Studio Greenhouse with 11 other creatives in central Brighton I am co-founder of the art, but currently working at home during the past year of UK lockdown, mostly in my yard!

Art5: How often do you turn in art to our gallery?

 When I make sales, I replace with new work, I also work at Art5 the Wednesday gal and a joy to meet clients and talk about beautiful Art represented at Art5.

Art5: What mediums do you work with?

Acrylics and spray paint - I always draw moments of inspiration in my sketchbook.

Art5:Professionally, what is your goal?

I would love a solo show in London galleries and other capital cities. I would love to work on huge canvas sizes or with an interior design project or urban wall community art project - big dreams!

Art5: Does personal history work its way into your practice? 

Memories are particularly important to my subject matter places I have lived, inspiration from travel

Art5: How might who you are be reflected in your current work?

During lock down my painting has become abstract evoked by the limited and beautiful sea swimming and walks in Sussex and I am forever grateful for the beauty of the Sussex coastline and South Downs on my doorstep for eternal inspiration for my Art

Art5: What are you presently inspired by— are there particular things you are reading, listening to, or looking at to fuel your work?

Sea and coast and walk on the South Downs, music is a key part of my painting process it creates another realm to inspire colour and movement in my paint strokes - Fourtet is the best music for my painting hours - I saw them at a Brighton festival when I was 5 months pregnant and I danced and felt such joy from their music it has never left my soul

Art5: How has your style changed over the years?

 My work before lockdown was influenced my travel and memories of my childhood in the West Indies, but this past year has pushed my work into to a higher state of emotion a search for beauty and hope during these unknown times, I have become abstract and fed off my sea swimming and golden winter sunrise and dusk skies over Brighton to keep magic flowing through strange times. The gold nature light creates a hope on the horizon to treasure and bring joy.

 Art5: What do you believe is a key element in creating a good composition?

I am currently working on sea and landscapes using flat vibrant colour and then layering contrast of colours to create depth and I am on a mission to capture that golden light that brings joy and beauty. 

Art5: What makes you laugh?

Times with my friends and family and diving into an ice-cold sea or river

Art5: What is art for you?

Art is my core being without I feel quite lost 

Art5: Three things in your bucket list. 

An Exhibition with Cragie Aitchson, to walk the South downs way, to swim in Icelandic lakes and see the Nazca Lines; oops that is 4!

Art5: Where is your favourite place in the world?

I have so many favourite places - I grew up in the West Indies and loved Jamaica for colour, nature and landscape but Sussex and Brighton also holds much inspiration and vibrant sea skies, I was born in Sussex so I have Sussex in my blood for ever on canvas!

Art5: Who are your favourite artists?

David Hockney, Cragie Aitchinson, Gaugin, Antonio Tapies, Bonnard, Patrick Heron, Tom Hammick they use to colour like alchemists their colour shines and sings - this is my aim colour love

Art5: What is the most challenging part about being an artist?

Making a living and keeping the faith and belief that your work is unique and can bring joy to others.

Art5: What is the best part about creating art?

Expression with colour and brush and communicating beauty and uplifting moments in nature to share with others. 

Art5: What is indispensable in your art studio?

My paints and my headphones for listening to Fourtet

Art5: What is your favourite website?

Instagram  

Art5: How would your best friends describe you?

Loyal, positive, and smiling

Art5: What do you worry about and why?II try not to worry but an artist lifestyle is always hand to mouth, but I believe positive energy always provides for the bigger picture

Art5: How do you define success?

Live in the moment

Art5: What does family mean to you?

My family mean happiness, laughter and learning the art of patience and unconditional love

Art5: Who has inspired you in your life and why?

My parents are an inspiration - they always supported my interest in art and being a creative person and now my daughter is a huge inspiration her courage and humour are a shining light during lockdown 

Art5: Your favourite book or author?

I am currently reading - Roger Deakon Waterlog - a beautiful poetic novel on wild swimming and hugely inspirational

Art5: What is your favourite food?

I love spicy vegetarian food

Art5: What is the most interesting thing about you?

My urge to live in the moment and all my past experiences of course

Art5: What are you the most grateful for?

My eyesight and being alive.

Art5: What words of wisdom would you pass unto your childhood self?

Make sure you study what makes you happy and try and make it your career and working life is 75% of your adult life - that is what my father told me!

Art5: How do you want to be remembered?

By my art and my smile

Art5: Do you have pets? What are they?

My daughter has some pretty little fishes - having a fish tank in our living room is very calming.and Sushi a very gorgeous feline and always watching me paint.

Art5: What is your fondest childhood memory?

Sunday walks with my father through woods and pretending to sight tigers and learning to swim and ride a bike.

Art5: What music do you listen to? Do you paint with music?

I always paint to music Fourtet and electronica for abstract inspiration.

Art5: What makes you cry?

I mostly cry happy tears if I cry.  

Art5: What is “home” to you?

Home is where I can snuggle up and feel relaxed

Art5: What motivates you to succeed?

Recognition and earning a living to buy more paints

Art5: In what ways are you the same as your childhood self?

I take each day as it comes and try not to project into the future - so living for the moment keeps things fresh and free of fear.

Thank you for taking the time to read our interview!

GA