Paintings and prints by Maria Underwood is now on at The Astor, Deal Kent 04/01/25 – 28/02/25
About me
Inspiration
My art is inspired by authentic beauty. The innate loveliness of the subject, whether a portrait, figure, or something found in nature.
I like viewers to feel something positive: inspired, hopeful, joyful, calm, serenity. My art reflects beauty back into the world.
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My figure paintings, give visibility to authentic beauty in women. Comfortable, confident, and blossoming at every age. Beauty is not defined by youth or perfection.
Signature style
I work mainly in oils, with acrylic and pen, on linen, canvas and board.
My signature style starts with pen line and flat acrylic colour. Distilling gesture and movement to simple line and flat colour means there is an absence of information overload (such as detail in clothing).
This reduced visual language is balanced with expressive and rich paint-work in oils that brings the subject to life. Working energetically with a warm, bright, or deep palette of colours, I search out rhythms and contours that will express a sense of form, beauty and personality.
In portraits I like to capture a luminous yet tender likeness in the people I paint. My figures emerge with a pleasing sense of immediacy. The women in my paintings feel confident and relaxed. They take up space in an interesting and elegant way.
Bio
I am a largely self-taught artist. I started painting portrait commissions in 2019 and have worked as a professional full-time artist since 2021, focusing on creating portraits, figure and nature inspired paintings and prints.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025, Solo art show, The Astor, Kent
2024, South East Artists Open Studios, Deal, Kent.
2023, East Kent Artists Open House, Kent
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 -2025, Linden Hall Studio, Kent
2024 - present, Deal Town Market, Kent
2024, We Make it Home Studio Event, Kent
2024, Pie Factory Margate, Kent
2023-2024, Tap House, Kent
2023 – 2024, Linden Hall Studio, Kent
2023, Turner Rowe Art Centre & Gallery, Kent
2022 - 2023, Linden Hall Studio, Deal, Kent
2022, Turner Rowe Art Centre & Gallery, Kent
2022, Tap House, Kent
2022, Wooden Box Gallery, Kent
2021 - 2022, Turner Contemporary, Kent
2021, Tap House, Kent
2021, Portraits for NHS Heroes (online)
2020, South East Kent Artist Open Studios, Kent
COMMISSIONS
2019 - present, UK Private Commissions
AWARDS
2023, Sky Arts TV Portrait Artist of the Year, contestant
2023, Longlist, Jackson’s Art Painting Prize
2023, Longlist, Women in Art Emerging Women Painter & Photographer Prize
2022, Shortlist, Supporting All Artists (SAA) Artist of the Year
2022, Longlist, Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painters Prize
2022, Longlist, Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition
Collaboration
I love collaborating with others who share my positive values and creative interest. Whether that means authentic & ageless beauty, wellness or self-expression (though movement, creativity, fashion or interiors). Please fill in the contact form, I'd love to hear from you to see if we are a good fit.