Location: Japan
Evelyn makes digital collages with her many photographs using Photoshop. She shares her memories and thoughts of that place: how it felt to be in that moment. Often memories are embellished and exaggerated in some way from the facts, or “real life”. This is what she does. New photographic images that have been transformed and heightened. The finished images are dreamlike, illusions, arranged jigsaw puzzle pieces. Call them impressions or expressions of being in a place.
Evelyn says, “Most days the beauty in this world is overwhelming. I can’t help but respond with gratitude to my Creator through recording of all things that take my breath away. I treasure up my memories with visual documentation: photographs. I love to explore and immerse myself in different spaces: different cultures, architecture, landscape. I’m a traveler, not a tourist. It’s a wonderful adventure, which I should share with you. We are each unique, but unified. Same desires, joys and struggles. We are diverse and the same. I love the scene in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves where a little girl asks Azeem (Morgan Freeman’s character) if God painted him. He laughs and replies, “For certain. For Allah loves wondrous varieties.” The world is projected to be a scary place. But I will counter that with sharing its great beauty. If I can remove some of the fear and hate mongered, then I have achieved my goal.”
Evelyn grew up reading National Geographic magazines and watching David Attenborough’s wildlife documentaries, and the wanderlust and desire to travel developed. These wonderful, far off places are not so unattainable. Her grandfather was a painter. He painted his way through PTSD after being a Japanese POW working on the railroads in Chiang Mai. His vibrant jungle scenes showed none of the horror of war; just everyday life as he remembered it. He has had a huge influence on Evelyn’s artistic journey.
Evelyn paints oil on canvas and watercolor on paper. She is inspired by what she sees around her, using her photographs as source material. Evelyn’s painting style bordered between Realism and Impressionism. Evelyn takes commissions for portraits from photo. Evelyn says, “I love to paint. I love using oils to build up layers of color, and show depth! It’s very tangible, and I greatly enjoy the lengthy process. I paint portraits; studied from photograph and from life. It is a beautiful thing to watch how something flat can appear to have form and three dimensions! I paint on canvas. I draw portraits in pencil and charcoal on paper.”
Evelyn has spent her life moving around and living in different countries. She was born in the USA, but grew up in Italy, Germany, and England. As an adult, she has also lived in Chicago and South Korea; spending extended visits in South Africa. Evelyn is currently living in Tokyo with her husband and son. She saves all her spare pennies for future travel trips. Her other interests include reading pre 20th century literature while enjoying a hot cup of English tea, and hiking.
Since graduating with a BA Fine Art from the University of Hertfordshire, in the UK, Evelyn has completed online classes and courses in traditional painting, figurative drawing, portraiture and photography; as well as, marketing and business courses.
Evelyn has exhibited in galleries and shows in London, Miami, Tokyo, Chicago, Cambridge, Lisbon, and Gwangju, South Korea. Evelyn has received awards for her Photo Montage work and Photography work from London International Creative Competition, Light Space & Time Online Gallery, Your Shot National Geographic and Artavita. Her Travel Photography has been featured with Lonely Planet, and Vibes Photography. Evelyn takes commissions for Photo Montage Art, Portraits, Paintings and Drawings through her website and through Arts and Crafts fairs. Evelyn sells her work with Saatchiart.com, Society6.com and Fineartamerica.com. Her Travel Photography work is sold with Dreamstime.com and Shutterstock.com.
Exhibitions and Awards
•2017 Honorable Mention with London International Creative Competition, London, UK
•2016 Photo Montage exhibition with The Artbox.Projects Spectrum Miami 1.0, Miami, Florida, USA
•2016 Artwork Certificate of Excellence with Artvita
•2016 Special Recognition award with Light Space & Time
•2016 Special Merit award with Light Space & Time
•2016 Photo Montage exhibition at Design Festa Gallery, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
•2016 Certificate of Excellence with Artavita.com
•2015 Travel Photography featured with Lonely Planet online blog
•2015 Travel Photography featured with Your Shot National Geographic.com
•2014 Logo design commission for All Saints Church, Sawtry, Cambridgeshire, UK
•2013 Photo Montage exhibition at Changing Spaces, Cambridge, UK
•2013 Photo Montage exhibition at The Boathouse Business Centre, Wisbech, UK
•2012-2013 Photo Montage exhibition at Colorida Art Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
I take photos of anything and everything that interests me. But, one photo cannot encompass the essence, the totality of being in that place. I am visually recreating pieces of my encounters and memories, by manipulating multiple photographs; forming distortions, and teasing the eye. I experiment between static photographs; memories which we recall vividly, to elusive, transient recollections of being in a place.
The horizon is always the same, but the path to get there always changes. Balancing distance and depth between the seemingly insignificant details, to the large, whole image. And I love moving between these distances, just like when painting: you work very close to the canvas, and you step back to view the painting as a whole. At first glance, it may seem accidental, chaotic and unplanned; but there was complete orchestration to get to this point. Like vines and roots from many different trees and plants growing, entwining, wrapping, and looping. These images don’t just fall into place; they must be coaxed, guided, tweaked, stretched and sometimes scrapped all together.
One piece to share a sense of time, a journey, a descriptive narrative, a visual smorgasbord; a solution to gather all that I had seen and felt. I rest when the Result and the Objective join hands and flow together in harmonious parallel across the piece. And why share them with you? Because, they are beautiful, and beauty must be shared: to inspire, to dream, to love.
A tree comprised of about 20 individual photographs of tree trunks, branches, red leaves, orange leaves, and blue and violet skies. From afar, the image looks like a tree, with an abundance of leaves; almost too many for one tree. So one comes in for a closer look; to discover intricate, delicate layering, of branches, of leaves. This is my desired conclusion: to draw you in for a closer look. It looks familiar, but something is a little different. So please enjoy Autumn Leaves 2015!
Taken during the sunset hours on the island of Boracay, Philippines Dec 2011/Jan 2012. This is the first piece I have given a black background, which I think lends well to the silhouettes within the strips of photos. I may develop this idea and make a gradient color sweep across the piece: blue to yellow horizon.
The concept for this piece was inspired from my Prague Tiled piece. With mosaic tiled art decorating so much of Barcelona, I found it only fitting (no pun intended) to arrange and piece my photos into a photo. Another way to think of this piece is like a tapas bar: lots of little tastes and teasers for the viewer.
All the reds, golds, and greens of the traditional architecture of Beijing. The gold gives the buildings such opulence, and I am so attracted to bright shiny things! We had remarkably clear blue, unpolluted skies during our visit, which add good contrast to the photos slices.
Development of Birds Of A Feather work; this time focusing on one bird in particular: the crane.
2007
montage photography art
photography print
various print sizes available
This is quite a popular print. I have sold quite a few of these. I wonder if it because of the wide variety of colors and textures of the architecture. There is a lot going on and it needs time taken to look at it thoroughly. It's one of my older pieces from when I first started my montage photography art exploration, and it's still a favorite of mine. I've taken this formula and applied to several works since.
2007
montage photography art
photography print
various print sizes available
My first montage piece during university days. I had so many photos from a recent Venice trip. And most of them were of the numerous bridges throughout the city. If you can see the two arched bridge I have created with all my bridge photos.
2007
montage photography art
photography print
various print sizes available
One of my favorite pieces. Why? You hardly need ask: because of all the colors!!!! I went to the zoo and came back with this (many days and hours spent on Macs later) This file was so large to work with, I had two Macs working on different parts of it! Oh, the hours and days I spent in the computer suite on this piece! I still remember.
2009
montage photography art
photography print
various print sizes available
One of my favorites, and no, not because of all the colors. The depth created from the positioning and layering I find very compelling. It appears to be a panoramic landscape shot, but not. There are lots of distorted walls and buildings. The courtyard is not as it is in 'real photography life'. It would have been easier to simply take a wide angle landscape of this scene, but it would not be my memory. Can't you imagine my eyes wandering over the courtyard of the Forbidden City; taking in the frozen stream, glancing at the roof tops, flickering my gaze at the pillars.... Painting a picture with photographs?
2010
montage photography art
photography print
various print sizes available
This was a timely piece comprised of photos taken at the palace in Seoul, South Korea. The ghostly shadows of the guards took a long time to get how I wanted. This is a time based piece. The marching of the guards across the square is the focal point. It is one piece I wouldn't recommend having in too small a print, else the details and movements are difficult to see, unless very close viewing.
2010
montage photography art
photography print
various print sizes available
This is another popular piece; I believe because it is bright and colorful, well, that is why I like it! These were leaves taken during the very beautiful season of Autumn around South Korea. I had never seen such bright Autumn colors with mild, crisp sunshine. I like to think of this piece as a flurry of leaves.
2012
montage photography art print
various sizes available
This piece focuses on the Scottish thistle and heather. My sister and I did (some of) the West Highland Way, and me, needing to catch my breath every so often, I used the excuse of taking a photo of thistles. This is one of the chunkier sliced pieces.
2012
montage photography art print
various sizes available
A second trio to Scotland; this time with my husband and with a car, rather than hiking. This is the first of my rainbow, color gradient collages. I am pleased with it. The slices are thick, and many, making the piece very panoramic in size.
2013
montage photography art print
various print sizes available
The concept for this piece was inspired from my Prague Tiled piece. With mosaic tiled art decorating so much of Barcelona, I found it only fitting (no pun intended) to arrange and piece my photos into a photo. Another way to think of this piece is like a tapas bar: lots of little tastes and teasers for the viewer.
2013
montage photography art
photography print
various print sizes available
A gradient of color running through this piece: warm reds and oranges, to cooler blues.
2013
montage photography art
photography print
various print sizes available
One of my favorite panoramic sized pieces. I love the movement through it. It is a time based work; the dancer starts in the far left and finishes her dance with a bow in the far right. It was unintentional how the dancer seems to move towards the viewer in the center of the piece, and the moves back into the background at the end of the dance. As photos alone, I would have discarded the blurred ones, but arranged together as such, it only adds to the motion and flow. I also like the effect of black and white, with a touch of color to move the viewer's eye across the piece.
2013
montage photography art
photography print
various print sizes available
It had always been a dream of mine to visit Japan, and finally, in 2011, that became a memory. This piece has a large number of slices to it, compared to other similar pieces. I believe that to be because I felt everything was of viewing importance. No one has one piece of sushi, now do they?! This is the second of my color themed pieces.
montage photography art print
various print sizes available
The second of a two part piece. There is a lot going on in this piece. Many, many layers. Discombobulated, and dare I say, messy, no, scratch that, busy (let's use positive descriptions!) And this piece completely sums up my trip to Marrakesh. My eyes were exhausted at the end of each day, from all the dancing and gazing, and looking.
Pinks from the lightest and most delicate shade, to vibrant magentas. Dark purples and blues with white flower sprigs. Red with gold decoration. Pale Summer greens, and soft Spring yellows. Black with bold gold and copper details.
I have snapped away at every kimono I have seen. They are so pretty, and part of me wishes it was my culture to wear kimono and not look like I’m going to a costume party.
I love the colors and prints. These lovely ladies look like living flowers as they stand for photos in Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa, Tokyo.
As I am such a fan, the idea of a folding fan popped into my little cranium one evening. Most ideas blossom into my head just before I go to sleep, and then I pumped and the creative brainstorming starts, and it’s normal a good hour before I wind down, able to go to sleep. Just the way of it!
Each section of the fan is a different young lady, a different kimono, or (lightweight) yukata. From left to right we have reds merging into pinks. Pinks dancing with purples. And purples nudging blues. Most photos were taken around Asakusa; mainly Senso-ji Temple, and Kamakura. There are a few from Gion in Kyoto.
A Photo Montage Art piece to mirror my Autumn Leaves 2015 piece. This one is of the Springtime; specifically presenting the beauty of the cherry and plum blossoms: Sakura. This piece is comprised of 32 different images I've taken during the 2016 Spring season, in and around Tokyo. A celebration of delicate, soft pink, white, and bright, rich magenta. A wash of blossoms in the distance, and vivid, individual flowers. A thick, aged tree trunk to support such magnificent blossoms. And two birds amidst the branches, no doubt chirping away enjoying the arrival of Spring.
Photo Montage Travel Art
2016
A Sakura celebration of the delicate, fleeting Spring cherry and plum blossoms of around Japan.
I've been creating a set of works in watercolors on paper. The idea stems from the numerous travel photos I have collected from various locations. Although the places are so different geographically, people are still the same wherever you go. Searching through my photos, I have selected and then accentuated persons being where they are.
watercolor on paper
4.5 x 6 unframed
2013
This is the first of the People Being Series, and is half the size of the others. It also has the most painted background. What inspired me to start this series was the solitude of this man. He was completely absorbed in his craft, sitting in the afternoon sun.
This is the second of the People Being Series, and it is still my favorite. I like the grey tones through the painting, with the touches of pink and orange in the clothing and forefront wall.
9 x 12 unframed
2013
“People Being: iii Chiang Mai”
Upon completion, I felt the background of this painting made it a little flat; not much depth, but I think the harsh shadow of the woman on the door, and the child walking towards the viewer helps give it some depth.
watercolor on paper
9 x 12 unframed
2013
“People Being: vi San Antonio”
2013
watercolor on paper
9 x 12 unframed
I like the depth and distance successfully captured between these musicians in paint.
2013
watercolor on paper
9 x 12 unframed
Technically, I'm very happy with the instruments. I haven't achieved this with watercolors before.
Still so many to paint in this series, but enjoying the process and progression. The backgrounds are becoming less descriptive, which focuses the eye to the subjects 'being'.
2013
watercolor on paper
9 x 12 unframed
It was bitterly cold on this day near the Great Wall of China. These vendors were playing a game, and seemed oblivious to the cold, if it were not for their redden cheeks.
2013
watercolor on paper
9 x 12 unframed
I love the more reserved, grown up demeanor of the older sibling, compared to the younger's carefree skip; playing with her closer umbrella. I really like the dialogue in this painting; the contrast between the sisters; the younger tags along behind her older sister. I think it reminds me poignantly of my childhood with my younger sister; especially so as this was just up the street from where we used to live, at about these girls' age. It brought back a lot of memories.
2013
watercolor on paper
9 x 12 unframed
Two young men working on securing the fixings of their boat. The background is more vibrant in this painting compared to the barely there backgrounds of other paintings in this series. The reason being, the figures are more actively involved in the background than so in previous paintings.
2014
watercolor on paper
9 x 12 unframed
Some gambling games on a bridge in London. There are always so many people walking around London, and yet still space is found for such activities. A policeman came along in the next few minutes, and these young gentlemen pack up their wares and skedaddled.
“People Being: v Pha Zulu-Natal”
2013
watercolor on paper
9 x 12 unframed
I love the movement these girls have. The rhythm is their dance is captured.
“People Being xi Praia da Vitoria”
2015
watercolor on paper
9x12 unframed
Another completed addition to the People Being Series. This was inspired from a few photographs taken around different villages on the island of Terceira, the Azores. The festival of the Holy Spirit (Festa do Divino Espírito Santo) beginning in Easter. Each village celebrates by decorating the Spirit House (slight detail in background of painting) with bunting and flowers. Loaves of bread are given out. Traditional folk music and dancing fill the streets, which is what I have focused on in this painting. And I hope you enjoy my interpretation of such bright and lively celebrations!
“Autumn Leaves 2015”
“A Thousand Sunsets ”
“Barcelona Mosaic”
“Beijing Segments”
“Cranes”
“Segmented Prague”
“Venice Bridged”
“Skins”
“The Forbidden City”
“Gyeongbokgung Guards”
“Autumn Leaves 2010”
“Purple Scotland”
“Colors of Scotland”
“Barcelona Mosaic”
“Barcelona Slices”
“Maiko Dance”
“Slices of Japan”
“Marrakesh Medley”
“Fan of Japan”
“Spring Blossoms”
“Dreams Blossoming ”
“People Being: i Barcelona”
“People Being: ii Kyoto”
“People Being vi Cambridge”
“People Being vii Beijing”
“People Being viii Kusel”
“People Being ix Boracay ”
“People Being x London”
