Liese Webley and Francesca Dawson

Venue

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Venue Facilities

Artist statement

Francesca Dawson is a mixed media artist whose work explores the magic of nature and the stories it holds. Liese Webley creates bold, colourful abstract paintings inspired by nature and the beauty of the world around her. Original artwork, limited edition prints, cards and gifts available.

Extended Bio

Francesca Dawson Francesca Dawson is a mixed media artist whose work explores the magic of nature and the stories it holds. Using watercolour, coloured pencil, and ink pens, she creates layered, detailed pieces that often evoke atmosphere, memory, and emotion. Her art is inspired by storytelling in all its forms, from folklore to personal reflection, and she delights in crafting images that feel both familiar and slightly otherworldly. Francesca studied at Central Saint Martins and The Arts Institute at Bournemouth, later working in the arts sector as a gallery manager and retail manager for respected creative institutions in Devon. Alongside this, she nurtured her own practice — creating pet portraits and atmospheric landscapes. Now based near Exeter, Francesca works as both an art technician in a school also as an artist producing nature-inspired artwork that finds its way into homes as original pieces, limited edition prints, greetings cards, and gifts. Liese Webley Liese is an abstract painter. Each painting has gone on a unique journey which can have taken weeks, months, and even years to resolve. Rich in layers and with an authentic surface, each painting has its own story to tell; their history only fully appreciated in the flesh as these layers reveal themselves. Liese is her own fiercest critic, only allowing a piece to leave her studio when she knows it is ready to go out into the world. Process is critical. Liese’s starting point is often the colours and shapes she sees around here her, especially at the coast in Devon where she lives with her family. Initial sketches and photos are gathered and collected on location, and these are taken back to the studio to use as starting points for her paintings. Shapes appear on the canvas as she starts to work on the first layers. Colour is laid down. Pieces are then worked on and left to breathe, and a dialogue begins between Liese and her work. Colour contrasts and balance are carefully considered. Liese works on as many pieces as she can fit in her studio at any one time, feeding off each piece which then informs the next. It is an intense process which has its highs and lows, editing constantly and searching for that deep knowing that a piece has reached its full potential. When it feels right. Like in any creative process there is doubt and there is confidence in the work, but Liese believes this awareness is what makes her work stronger. The knowledge of the struggle that has gone into each piece infuses the paintings with authentic and deep connections that viewers experience. Liese has always been creative, using art as a form of self-development and a way to both escape from, and work through life’s trials and tribulations. The many layers in her work are like life, working through the complexities of being alive and finding joy in the creativity and beauty in the world.

Group Members

Liese Webley Francesca Dawson