About Me
My name is Ellen, and I’m a painter and printmaker based in Southeast London. Originally from California, I moved to the UK in 2010 to continue my studies in Contemporary Art at Christie's Education. Before that I spent three years in Rome, where I completed an undergraduate degree in Art History.
For years, art lived through me in museums, galleries, and even through writing. But in 2014, a creative nudge (or maybe a gentle shove) led me to finally pick up the tools and create myself. It turns out, the art history lover in me secretly longed to be the artist.
I began with linocut printmaking and, in recent years, have expanded into painting, exploring both gouache and oil. My inspirations are rooted in different periods and places in history, from the timeless elegance of Renaissance art to the intricate beauty of Japanese prints, with subtle echoes of modern abstraction throughout.
About My Work
My images are deeply personal yet speak to something universal. I often find myself searching for the right language to describe what my work is reaching toward — sometimes I call it peace, sometimes wholeness, sometimes the search for home within ourselves. In truth, these are all facets of the same idea, expressed in different textures and tones.
My introversion and sensitivity are at the heart of this search. As an easily over-stimulated lover of quiet, I thrive in solitude. That reflective space is where my art can take shape, in silence, in observation, and in feeling.
This way of being has shaped my life: retreating into my imagination as a child, moving to Italy in pursuit of the sublime, finding my soul through art, and more recently, cultivating presence through meditation and long, mindful, meandering walks.
The spirit of my art is expressed through simple forms, soft colour palettes, gentle patterns, and most importantly: thoughtfully posed nudes. My figures, most often based on my own body, are not self-portraits in the literal sense but contemplations on what it means to live in deep contact with one’s inner world.
Career Highlights
Ellen’s work is regularly featured at The Affordable Art Fair in both New York and London, and in 2019 she was selected as the official print artist of the New York fair. Her practice, which began with linocut printmaking and expanded to include gouache painting in 2022, and oil painting in 2025, is largely self-taught, though informed by her background in Art History.
Her work has been shown with JoAnne Artman Gallery, DECORAZON Gallery, and Tom Cox Gallery. She lives in Southeast London with her husband, Andrea, whom she met while studying in Rome.
Recent Publications
The Hand Magazine Cover, Spring 2025
Book cover of 'The Unit' by Ninni Holmqvist, Italian translation
