My artwork derives from the intersection of drawing and painting. Informed by the practice of drawing from life, it explores the intimacy of shared space, often within nature. Plants and trees have emerged as a common motif in my work, inspired by my upbringing in England’s rural west midlands countryside. The theme of memory and its fragmentation over time, along with ancient mythology and the passing down of stories, have been important reference points that have imparted my work with a strong sense of narrative. Instagram: @robynpackham

I enjoy the spontaneity of drawing – the outcomes feel active and intuitive. I might treat a drawing as a final piece, or a preliminary sketch to be combined with other media. My grounding in various drawing and printmaking techniques is a fundamental element of my practice and has led to some fascinating crossovers with painting. For example, the layering of thin glazes of colour emulates the methodical process of creating a multi layered print whilst instinctive mark making replicates the approach of making a drawing from life.

Where would you like your work to take you?

From finishing my art degree at home to trying to create some kind of art practice from my bedroom, for a while I felt like I needed to escape and rush to the next big thing, believing the answer was to be found elsewhere. I think a lot of art graduates have been feeling this way because of the pandemic and lockdown; a feeling of pressure to be a resilient factory of creative brilliance. However, I have had a change of heart. I am going to be taking at least one year to totally dedicate myself towards my practice of drawing, painting, and anything in between. This will contribute towards a body of work that I can be proud of and confident to take forward to Postgraduate applications. My ultimate goal is being able to live off my art career, exhibiting and showing internationally. I already have representation by an e-commerce gallery based in New York, where a few of my paintings are for sale, and I have had some freelance illustration work which has been fun and very rewarding. Now I am looking forward to eventually being able to attend an art residency in Scotland which was awarded to me in 2020. I have missed being able to get out and find new inspiration, so hopefully lots of good things to come!

Which part of your creative process do you enjoy most?

I find the transition of taking a drawing through to paint really exciting. Like seeing a black and white film developed into full colour. It is not necessarily 'better' than the original drawing, but the paint reveals new possibilities and gets me thinking about colour combinations that not only complement each other, but the atmosphere of the drawing. This can also be the most difficult part of the process!

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I am very much influenced by the depiction of memory and my surroundings as my process often originates from observational drawing. I have grown up and currently live in the countryside, therefore nature has embedded itself in my work, becoming somewhat motif-like. Since covid-19 I have obviously found myself in more confined spaces where I have been able to observe the intimacy of shared space and the interior world around me, which in turn romanticises the world outside even more. This is accompanied by my fascination with ancient history and mythology, where the landscape and natural world are often characters in their own right. I have also been working from poetry, exploring the depiction of imagery conjured by the written word. This has been an invaluable process that has helped with my freelance illustration work; allowing the two avenues of art to feed into one another. 

What piece of music would you say compliments your work the most?

I have been listening to a lot of Michael Kiwanuka while I work - I absolutely love his music, it makes me want to dance and cry at the same time! I also enjoy painting to Julie Byrne's gorgeous voice, in particular her song 'Natural Blue'. Kate Bush is also most definitely up there, my favourite album being 'The Kick Inside' - Growing up, my mum would always play Kate Bush while she'd get ready to go out, so It's particularly sentimental for that reason.

Can you list a couple other creatives/friends/people you look to for inspiration?

At University I was lucky to share a studio with the talented Alex Smith (@thequiet_earth) who paints glorious, moody landscapes and who also happens to be a funky Techno DJ! Also, the prolific Dan Buck (@13triplesix) who's studio space was always filled with incredible anatomical drawings and illustrations, and who is now becoming an incredibly talented tattoo artist! I have been amazed by the designs and animated work of George Goodwin (@unanimator), the music videos he has been a part of have been incredible. I was also lucky to have lived with a bunch of other lovely, talented artists in Bristol: @lucypetadesigns @fintan_illustration @tomgiwi_studio @ella_cairns and @daisyjones.art. Finally, the poetry of Jack Helme (@Jack_helme) has been a major inspiration for some recent collaborative work - I am extremely excited to see what we do next!