Sophie Fisher: A balanced composition
Artist Sophie Fisher is all about finding a balance in life and work.
She combines her work as an artist, with her role as a Pupil Support Worker in an Aberdeenshire school and she and her husband David have just welcomed a new born son.
‘My parents moved around a lot when I was a child, so I grew up all over Scotland – everywhere from Glasgow to Mull, Kirkcudbright to Sutherland. We even spent a year in France when my parents took part in a teaching
exchange program. My mother is an artist, so I guess it was natural for me to use whatever was to hand to make things. Looking back, I think my background instilled a particular kind of self-sufficiency in the way I navigate through life and my work expresses this.
‘After school in Kinlochbervie up in Sutherland, I studied with Eleanor White at Bridge House Art in Ullapool, completing a portfolio course and then attended Glasgow School of Art, graduating in 2009. We moved to Turriff from Glasgow in 2013 where I now work from my home studio.
‘As a painter, I’m mainly concerned with colour, composition and pattern. I love mixing paint and playing around with the juxtaposition of elements in my work. I find the work of Howard Hodgkin inspiring. It’s the apparent ease of abstract composition which belies the sensitivity and the power of his use of colour and also the literal content of his work that resonates with me. I also find the strong composition and colour use of artists like Matisse and Paula Rego appeal to me.
My recent work features the classic elements of still life but with the composition allowing for a more abstract balancing act of the elements. I work using a mix of direct observation of objects such as flowers, vessels, patterned cloths and table tops. My work is strong and confident yet there’s a playful atmosphere too. I try to keep an open mind as I’m working on a piece. I’ve even been known to turn my canvas upside down and rework areas several times to arrive at the final composition. I mainly work in oils or acrylics, but also on paper to create large pieces using water based paints or mixed media. My works of paper are based on suggestion and instinct. I’m also interested in the possibilities offered by working with fabrics, pattern and colour to create bold compositions filled with joy, excitement and intuition.
Last year, I was thrilled to exhibit in Ullapool for three months at Ceilidh Place. It was even more special as it was a joint exhibition with my mother, who’s also a painter. She lives and works in Ullapool. Ten years ago they had a similar show in the same venue. Perhaps another in another ten years? Who knows? I took part in North East Open Studios (NEOS) last year for the first time and I’ve previously exhibited at the Compass Gallery in Glasgow and in a joint exhibition with Leanne Dollin at an talla Solais, a visual arts venue in Ullapool.
At the moment, the best way of seeing my work is by arranging a private viewing, by emailing sophiefisher@rocketmail.com