Mariya McAllister
Mariya McAllister is a painter based in Essex. Born in Lviv, Ukraine, she grew up in Poland, where she studied at Poznan Art University (MA in Art Education) and Lodz Technical University (MSc in Graphic Design and Multimedia). She worked for around thirteen years as a graphic designer, including postproduction work on the Oscar-winning animated short "Peter and the Wolf" (2006). In 2022 she became a full-time professional artist and teacher. Her work has been shown at the Royal Society of British Artists Annual Exhibition and the ING Discerning Eye.
Artist Statement
The great inspiration for me is nature - it could be a beautiful flower, fruits or a landscape. In the subject I am looking for unique shapes, vibrant colours, interesting textures and lighting. My favourite mediums are acrylics and watercolours. I am focusing on creating a painting which would capture every detail of my subject, which brings my style close to photorealism. I believe that art possesses a great power which helps unlock creativity, self-expression, and inner peace.