Diane Firth
Diane Firth is a portrait artist based in Cambridge, specialising in oil paintings and drawings of people and animals, portrayed either on their own or together.
Firth studied History of Art and Architecture and French Studies at the University of Reading, then took a degree in the Practice and Theory of Visual Art at Chelsea College of Art, followed by an MA in Fine Art at Chichester University.
Much of the practice is commissioned portraiture of both people and animals. For a human portrait, Firth prefers to begin from life, taking photographic references in person, though photographs, or a mix of the two, are used when sittings are not possible. The largest commission to date is a series of seven charcoal drawings of Fellows of Robinson College, Cambridge, now held in the college art collection. Firth's work is in private collections in the UK, Australia, the USA, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
Firth is a member of the Portrait Society of America, the Visual Artists Association, Cambridge Drawing Society and the Society of Chrishall Artists.
Artist Statement
There are few things that can beat the power of gazing into the eyes of another living creature and sharing a connection. I love it when I capture that feeling. Every person and every animal is unique, with their own personality and way of being and I have never tired of finding a way to show that. I especially enjoy it when I get the chance to depict an animal and their person together as the human-animal bond is so special.
I'm passionate about creating high quality artworks which show all those unique personalities.
I aim to create treasured heirlooms which bring joy and happy memories to those who own them. Life goes so fast and an artwork is an opportunity to stop time and create something that can last for generations.