Mari French RI is an abstract mixed media painter with a particular interest in the liminal landscapes of coastline, salt marsh and moorland; she also has a passion for abstract florals. Confident use of layering and mark making create a rich surface history in her artworks-the artist often incorporating collage and calligraphy in the pieces; while a limited palette gives harmony and coherence; all resulting in work that stands alone but still owes a debt to its subject.
Mari was born in Manchester where she studied Art and Design followed by a 20 year career in graphic design. She spent 15 years on the Isle of Skye developing her abstract landscapes. Now in Norfolk working from her studio on a former 1930s airbase, Mari's design background often emerges in her work through strong composition and use of typography.
Mari has exhibited widely in both group and solo shows and has been regularly selected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours (RI) .
Selected Exhibitions
Little Buckland Gallery, Broadway, Glos
Gallery East, Woodbridge, Suffolk
Royal Watercolour Society, Bankside Gallery
Cricket Fine Art, Chelsea, London
Highgate Contemporary, London
Thompsons Gallery, Aldeburgh, Suffolk
Memberships
Elected member of the Royal Institute of
Painters in Watercolours
Awards
2014 Finalist, Sunday Times Watercolour
Competition
2016 Finalist, Artist & Illustrator Magazine
Artist of the Year