Andrea Hytch

Originally from the dramatic and wind-swept north Atlantic coast of N.Ireland, I then spent 30 years working as a teacher of Art and Design in Derbyshire schools.

Now retired and working from my home-based studio in Matlock, I primarily create paintings in oil and cold wax medium, but also explore monoprinting with acrylics and pen/watercolour illustrations.

Oil and Cold Wax medium is a messy, time-consuming process, whereby I create heavily textured paintings over a number of weeks. Layers of colour and texture are added, with drying time in between. I allow the paintings to slowly evolve, adding and scraping back until I achieve a harmonious balance of the elements within the composition.

Inspired by the local landscape, natural forms and still-life arrangements, my semi-abstract work is vibrant and richly textured. A love of colour prevades throughtout my work, whereby riotous colour combinations are used to build up layers of texture to create detailed surfaces, rich with imagery and pattern.