About Hester

My practice is rooted in traditional representation and methods, but I constantly challenge my understanding of “painting” and explore ways paint can represent effects such as light, time, movement and climate. I use the marks available to me as economically as possible, distilling the image / feeling / moment into what is necessary, so that through objective representation there is enough room for subjective interpretation. 

Having grown up in rural Devon, I have always been interested in landscape and the environment. My traditional university training in Aberystwyth nurtured this interest and also led me to explore life drawing and portraiture. After continuing my studies to complete an MA in Fine Art in Wimbledon, I taught life drawing and painting in Brighton and London. In 2016 I returned to Devon, where I now live and work.

Education

2008 – 2009	MA, Wimbledon College of Art
2008	Summer Studio, Cyprus College of Art, Lemba, Cyprus
2005 – 2008	BA hons, School of Art, University of Wales, Aberystwyth
1996 – 2005	West Buckland School, West Buckland, Devon

Exhibitions

Solo

Group

2023	Lanacre Barn Gallery, Exmoor
2022	In A New Light, Barnstaple
2022	Royal Cambrian Academy Open
2021 –	Tamarisk Gallery, St.Mary’s
2019 – 2022	Penwith Gallery, St. Ives
2018	New Street Gallery, Plymouth
2018 –	The Cheshire Art Gallery, Bramhall
2017 –	Will’s Art Warhouse, Putney
2017 – 2018	Studio56, Plymouth
2017 –	The Harbour Gallery, Portscatho
2016	Tighnabruaich Gallery, Argyll
2016	The East Sussex Open, The Towner, Eastbourne
2016	Westward Ho! And Bideford Art Society 84th Summer Exhibition Burton Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon
2016	40th Anniversary Retrospective, The Oxmarket, Chichester
2016 –	Claremont Antiques and Modern Art
2015	The End of Coal : A Vision of the Future ArtCOP21: Cultural Programme for Paris Climate 2015
2015	A Space Between, Stone Space, Leytonstone
2015	Stride Open, Oxmarket, Chichester
2015	‘Project AfterBirth’, White Moose, Barnstaple
2015	‘Ten’, White Moose, Barnstaple
2015	‘Forces of Nature’, Store Street Gallery, London
2015	Chelsea Art Fair
2014	WCA Reunion, Galeria Metamorfose, Porto
2014 –	The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
2014	Stark Gallery, Canterbury
2014	The Cambridge City Art Fair
2014	Bristol Affordable Art Fair
2014	Delamore Arts, Dartmoor
2014	Westward Ho! And Bideford Art Society 91st Summer Exhibition Burton Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon
2014	Albion Gallery, Chipping Norton
2014	Store Street Gallery, London
2013	161st Annual Open Exhibition, Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
2013	The Albany Gallery, Cardiff
2013	Russel Gallery, Putney
2013	Down To The Bone, ONCA, Brighton
2013	Open Spaces, Mottisfont Abbey, Nr Romsey
2013	Bell Fine Art, Winchester
2013	Attic Gallery, Swansea
2012	Dark Clouds, Worcester City Art Gallery
2012	Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead
2012	Gallery One, Grayshott
2012	Hop Open Exhibition 2012, Hop Gallery, Lewes, Sussex
2012	FEAT, Rottingdean Windmill, Sussex
2012	Westward Ho! And Bideford Art Society 89th Summer Exhibition Burton Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon
2012	Brighton Fringe Festival
2011	H is for…. Harley Gallery Open, Workshop
2011	Young Artists Award 2011, the Biscuit Factory, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
2011	Artsdepot Open, Artsdepot, North Finchley, London
2011	Hop Open Exhibition 2011, Hop Gallery, Lewes, Sussex
2010	Outlook – an exhibition to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research
2010	Westward Ho! And Bideford Art Society 88th Summer Exhibition Burton Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon
2010	Festival of Nature, The Bristol Gallery, Bristol
2009	Deutsche Postbank Summer Exhibition, London
2009	MA Show, Wimbledon College of Art, London
2009	Artsdepot Open, Artsdepot, North Finchley, London
2009	‘Intersections’, MA Interim Show 2009, The Nunnery, London
2009	New Ashgate Gallery, Farnham
2009	Deutsche Postbank Exhibition, London
2008	Elizabeth Finn Care and Macmillan Cancer Support Art Exhibition for Young Artists, Hallsannery, Devon
2008	Celebration Exhibition, 150th Anniversary of West Buckland School, Devon
2008	Appledore Gallery, Appledore, Devon
2008	Westward Ho! And Bideford Art Society 86th Summer Exhibition Burton Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon
2008	Degree show, Aberystwyth University
2008	Boundary Gallery, London
2008	Oriel Dafydd Hardy, Caernarfon
2008	Student Art Society 2007/08, UWA, Morlan Centre, Aberystwyth
2007	Exhibition for Open Competition, Art Matters, Tenby, Pembrokeshire
2007	Westward Ho! And Bideford Art Society 85th Summer Exhibition Burton Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon
2007	Student Art Society 2006/07, UWA, at Cambria Arts, Tregaron, Wales
2006	Westward Ho! And Bideford Art Society 84th Summer Exhibition Burton Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon

Awards

Shortlisted

2015	Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year
2014	Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year
2014	The BP Portrait Award

Awarded

2019	Westward Ho! And Bideford Art Society Ken Doughty Prize
2015	The Stride Open, The Stride Cup
2014	Westward Ho! And Bideford Art Society Ken Doughty Prize
2011	The Biscuit Factory Foundation, People’s Choice Young Artist of the Year 2011
2008	Geoffrey Crawshay Memorial Travelling Scholarship

Residencies

2021	Mawddach Residency, Dolgellau
2018	The Fisherman’s Hut, Artist in Residence, Portscatho
2016	National Trust, The Cabin at Bucks Mills Artist in Residence

Teaching

2023 –	Quirky Workshops, Greystoke
2022 –	East Devon Art Academy, Sidmouth
2022 –	Studio KIND, Barnstaple
2022 –	Bildwerk, Frauenau
2021 –	Phoenix Studio, Towersey
2021 –	West Dean College of Arts, Chichester
2020 –	Truro Arts Company
2016 – 2019	White Moose Gallery, Barnstaple
2014 – 2016	Camden Arts Centre
2011 –	Draw, the Brighton Life Drawing Sessions, Brighton
2010	Art classes for patients with severe mental illness, Weston Rd, Guildford
2009 – 2010	Art Classes, Guildford Action, Drop-in Centre, Surrey