Biography and Exhibitions


studio shot 2022


Stephanie Rew (b 1971) is a Scottish painter based in EdinburghUK

Painting in the figurative realist style she incorporates oil paintings with gold leaf, combining traditional Early Renaissance gilding techniques with more contemporary ways of painting.

Stephanie won the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Bursary soon after graduating from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee.

She curated the first Women Painting Women Exhibition in the UK as part of the WPW (R) evolution movement in 2013. She won the ‘Best Nude’ Award in 2018 and the FWSD Award in 2019 in Art Renewal Centre Salon, is a finalist in the ModPortrait17 and ModPortrait19 Award held in Spain.

She was a finalist at the Scottish Portrait Award 2017and has exhibited at MEAM Barcelona in both ‘Women Painting’ exhibitions held in 2019/2020 to celebrate International Women’s Day. In 2021she won the Peoples Choice Award in Beautiful Bizarre Magazine's Art Competition. 


You can listen to her talk more about her process and inspirations on John Dalton's - Gently Does it podcast.

Artist Statement

Pattern, colour and texture of textiles and costume are intrinsic to my work, giving the painting a tactile and dramatic element, placing the model in a timeless era. Tone and form as well as strong light and colour is important to me, as I concentrate on the relationship between tonality and texture whilst keeping a private, reflective mood with the work.

I am interested in the historical element of art and theatrical costumes has always been a favoured theme, and have been using couture garments along with the kimono to add drama and design to my art. Recently I have been incorporating gold leaf into my work, exploring the relationship between the decorative reflective gold leaf surface and a fully rendered oil painting. The design and pattern of the surface and textiles have become an important part of my painted compositions.

My inspirations come from my life long love of the Ukiyo-e Japanese wood-cut prints as well as the works of Caravaggio, Whistler and Sargent. I am influenced by the Baroque style of oil painting and utilise a combination of Old Masters techniques with my own. I also am influenced by the devotional artists of the Early Renaissance, Giotto and Crivelli, as well as the Scottish Arts and Crafts movement, particularly the modern fresco work of Margaret MacDonald and Phoebe Anna Traquair. I enjoy bringing the classical techniques into the present day. It grounds me as an artist to look back in time to learn.

Ideas for my paintings usually come to me instinctively as finished images in my mind; this means the work has no distinct narrative. That I leave to the viewer to create for themselves. '

   


 

Solo Exhibitions - Two Person Shows

Thompson's Gallery, London         'A Heart of Gold' 2023

Thompsons Gallery, Aldeburgh      'Gilded' - Solo Show 2021

Thompsons Gallery, Aldeburgh      Stephanie Rew and Jenny Matthews 2017 

Lympstone Manor,         'Reverie' Solo Show 2017

Beaux Art Bath               Stephanie Rew and Jennifer Anderson 2016

Thompsons Gallery        Stephanie Rew and Judith Bridgland 2014

Alpha Art, Edinburgh      Solo Show 2012

Oisin Gallery, Dublin       Solo Show 2009

Art Exposure Gallery       Solo Show 2007, 2006

Menier Gallery,  London       Solo Show 2003

Bloxham Galleries, London   Solo Show 2001

Sussex Arts Club, Brighton    Solo Show1998

 

Selected Group Exhibitions


‘Women Painting’ MEAM Barcelona 2020

'Flower Power'      Arcadia Contemporary, NYCNYUSA

ModPortrait19       Barcelona/Zaragoza (cancelled due to Covid-19)

'Five and Under'    Arcadia Contemporary, CA, USA

‘Pintando Hoy’     MEAM Barcelona

Art Renewal Centre Salon – New York/Los Angeles/Barcelona 2018/2019

ModPortrait17       MEAM Barcelona 2017

‘I Observe’ –          Group Exhibition, Rehs GalleriesNew York USA 2018

Autumn Show       Thompsons Gallery, London 2018, 2019

Summer Shows     Thompsons Gallery Aldeburgh 2013-2019

'Faces and Figures'   Fotheringham Gallery, Bridge of AllanUK 2018


'Anniversary Exhibition'         Waterhouse Gallery, Santa BarbaraCAUSA  2016, 2014,

'Celebrating the Portrait in Art'  Haynes Galleries, Nashville and Maine, USA  2014

‘Women Painting Women UK' - (Curator and exhibitor) Art Exposure Gallery, Glasgow 2013

'Grand Opening Left Bank Gallery’ – Galerie L’Oeil de Prince, ParisFrance 2013

‘Summer Show’ – Thompsons Gallery, AldeburghUK  2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

‘3 Woman Show’ – Whittington Fine Art, Henley on ThamesUK 2012

‘Spring Exhibition’ – CK Contemporary, San FranciscoCAUSA 2012

Holiday Exhibition’ – Wendt GalleriesCAUSA 2012

‘Caledoniart’ – White Gallery, London 2011

‘The Female Form’ – Red Rag Gallery, Bath 2011

‘Women Painting Women’ - Robert Lange Studios, CharlestonNCUSA 2010

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