Fiona Wilson is a UK-based artist working from her studio in Bedford.
Described as ‘Figurative Extraction’ my work is expressive and semi-abstract. I combine line and gestural mark making with recognisable figurative symbols and strong, complimentary colours to create paintings with a distinctive vibrancy and ambiguity.
Often working in a improvisatory manner, I use automatism to create without conscious thought, and use music to help draw on memories and imagination.
Working in mixed media, I predominantly combine soft pastels with graphite, pan pastels and soluble graphite; exploring the interplay between mediums to create layers with depth, spatial qualities and texture. What is obscured or absent is often as important as what is revealed. I also paint in oils and acrylics.
Inspired by the early and mid 20th century work of Miro, the surrealists and abstract expressionists, paintings to music and expressive life studies satisfy my need for immediacy. Surrealist and dreamscape-like paintings meanwhile begin with the same spontaneity and intuitive approach before the process slows. Images emerge; some deliberately and consciously, others extracted from underlying marks; to express my thoughts and create a dialogue that invites the viewer to search deeper.
“For me, what’s particularly interesting and satisfying about Fiona Wilson’s art lies at its semi-abstract core, which I’m naming ‘Figurative-Extraction’; it’s the non-representational, often forgotten, abstracted language of brilliant colour, tumbling line, rippling texture, gestural mark-making and dynamic shape referencing the real world, that Fiona Wilson successfully correlates to blossoming landscape or oxygen-rich human figure.
Blending reality towards expression, Wilson’s conceptual semi-figurative abstraction touches truths and ideas about time, space, feelings, thoughts and memory, within a strong invented pictorial design that’s theatrically complex in composition, I can only describe it as live performance on paper.
Her art has energy. Her art has a voice. I hear it.”
Fiona Wilson’s ‘Figurative-Extraction’ by Estelle Lovatt FRSA
Fiona started her career in visual communications before shifting focus to her fine art practice. Attending Hampstead school of Art, she studied under tutors including Dr Eithne Healy and Estelle Lovatt FRSA.
Fiona continues to develop her practise through professional mentorship, self directed and group study.
She won the colour award at the Hampstead Art Fair in 2018 and was recently long-listed for the Women in Art Prize 2024.
Fiona has work in personal collections in UK and Europe, and a busy exhibition and commission diary. Active in the local and regional arts communities, she is a board member and tutor at Bedford Arts & Craft Centre, works with organisations including the Harper Trust and Higgins Gallery and runs an independent Art Club. She is also a co-founder of Balcony Art & Design Studio in 2017.
+44 (0) 7789 896077
fiona@fionawilsonart.com
POP Studio 4
Market Hall
The Arcade
Bedford
MK40 1NS
Exhibitions
Coming up
Solo Show / The Stables, Wavendon, MK / 3 March - 31 May 2025
Solo Show / The Arc, Bedford / 25 March - 7 April 2025
Open Studios / POP Studio 4, The Arcade, Bedford / 21 - 23 March 2025 & 27 - 29 June 2025
2024
Open Studios / POP Studio 4, The Arcade, Bedford / 2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 1 September, 6 October, 3 November & 1 December 2024
Bedford Flea & Affordable Art Fair / Market Square, Bedford / 9 June, 11 August & 13 October 2024
Open Studio / POP Studio 4, The Arcade, Bedford / 5 May 2024
Open Studio / POP Studio 4, The Arcade, Bedford / 7 April 2024
Everyday People / POP Studio 4, The Arcade, Bedford / 18 March - 24 March 2024
Open Studio / POP Studio 4, The Arcade, Bedford / 3 March 2024
Tableaux (Joint Show) / The Arc, Bedford / 27 February - 10 March 2024
Open Studio / POP Studio 4, The Arcade, Bedford / 4 February 2024
2023
Human Nature / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford / 10 November 2023 - 12 March 2024
Open Studio / POP Studio 4, Bedford / 25 November 2023
Open Studio / POP Studio 4, Bedford / 15 October 2023
Open Studio / POP Studio 4, Bedford / 9 September 2023
The Art Binge (Group Show) / The Quarry Theatre, Bedford / 7 July - 7 August 2023
Glass Ceiling (Solo Show) / The Arc, Bedford / 8 June - 6 July 2023
Anthems & Anthologies / Blue Glass, Bedford / 26 January - 30 March 2023
2022
That’s A Wrap / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford / 23 December 2022 - 12 March 2023
Goddess / 3 St Peter’s, Bedford / 11 November - 23 December 2022
Abundance / The Arc, Bedford / 30 September - 15 October 2022
Bedford Girls School Alumnae & Student Exhibition / 30 June 2022
Indulgence / 3 St Peter’s, Bedford / 31 March - 17 April 2022
Womanhood / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford / 24 March - 30 April 2022
Inspire / Goldington Academy, Bedford / 10 March 2022
2021
Anthologies / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford / 09September - 31 January 2021
Eden (group show) / The Arc, Bedford / 06 September - 23 October 2021
The Time is Now / Blue Glass, Bedford / 10 June - 30 January 2021
Unlocked 21: / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford / 04 May - 30 July 2021
2020
‘Trace’ Exhibition with Jean-Luc Almond / The Basement @ Bunyan, The John Bunyan Museum, Bedford / 10 March - 21 March 2020
2019
‘Unboxed’ Solo Exhibition / The Basement @ Bunyan, The John Bunyan Museum, Bedford / 12 March - 23 March 2019
2018
Exhibition / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford / 02 September - 30 November 2018
NOHAT: Woman Shall Inherit The Earth / Panacea Museum, Bedford / 12 July - 26 August 2018
Hampstead Summer Festival Art Fair / Whitestone Pond, Hampstead / Winner of the Colour Prize
Hampstead School of Art End of Year Staff & Student Exhibition / HSoA Gallery, Hampstead, London
Hampstead School of Art Dr Eithne Healy Student Show / HSoA Gallery, London
DoWrk Gallery / Luton, Bedfordshire
2017
Hampstead School of Art Dr Eithne Healy Student Show / HSoA Gallery, London
Hampstead Artists Council (HAC) Exhibiting Membership Exhibition / Renzo Piano Buidling, Central St Giles, London
ANB Group Exhibition / Bromham Mill Gallery, Bedfordshire
2016
Hampstead Artists Council (HAC) Exhibiting Membership Exhibition / HSoA Gallery, Hampstead, London
Existence / Joint Exhibition with Sculptor Jim Francis / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford
ANB Group Exhibition / Bromham Mill Gallery, Bedfordshire
Hampstead School of Art Student & Staff Show / HSoA Gallery, London
'Drawn Together' / Group Exhibition / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford
Alan Gouk Inspires Exhibition / HSoA Gallery, Hampstead School of Art Student Exhibition / Hampstead, London
2015
ANB Christmas Exhibition / Bedfordshire
Solo Exhibition / Pensieri, Bedford
ANB Group Exhibition / Bromham Mill Gallery, Bedfordshire
ANB Art Trail / Brownes, Bedford
ANB Summer Exhibition / Bromham Mill Gallery, Bedfordshire
Heath Street Open Air Fine Art Market / Hampstead, London
Kaleidoscope / Joint Exhibition with Jean-Luc Almond / Art Centre & Gallery, Bedford
Joint Exhibition / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford.
ANB Group Exhibition / Bromham Mill Gallery, Bedfordshire
‘Blurred Lines’ Solo Show / Frescoes Gallery, Bedford.
‘Animals' Group Exhibition curated by Art Gallery Space / Pavilion at the Park, Bedford.
2014
‘BedPop’ Pop Up Gallery / Art Centre & Gallery, Bedford.
‘Animals 2014’ Exhibition / Light, Space & Time Online Gallery
Pop Up Gallery / Art Centre & Gallery, Bedford.