explore the paintings

the past is not so far away after all

​finding new meaning
through snippets of History

Busting some Painting Myths along the way

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8 Hour Painting Demonstration Video Course

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Welcome!

I am a Dutch-born artist, art tutor, writer and art historian, based in the UK. I find much of my inspiration in art history, especially the Dutch and English 16th and 17th century. I try to find a dynamic between the past and the present in my painterly depictions of lace, silk, and velvet as well as my portraiture. My portrait work has been exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, the BP Portrait Award and elsewhere. I paint in oils and pastel and am available for commissions. 

Paintings

Beautiful galleries show portraiture, fabrics and lace, pastel and drawings as well as recent work. With links to current exhibition listings, how to buy a painting and more. 

Courses

Have a look at my very first online painting demonstration! Eight hours of video with commentary, extra text and info. Watch over my shoulder while I paint a still life in oil

Blog

A large resource of articles on art history, pastel and oil painting tips and techniques, exhibition reviews, musings and inspiration.

Video

Short videos, tutorials, product reviews, course excerpts and peeks in the studio on Sophie’s Youtube channel

Discover the Blog

RWA Open Exhibition 2018
The 166th RWA Open Exhibition is on again in Bristol, UK. This annual exhibition has been going strong for so[...]
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William Larkin: The Curtain Master
The work of William Larkin (early 1580s – 1619) stands out from the crowd. Not only because some of his[...]
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William Larkin’s Style of Painting and the End of an Era
Larkin’s Portrait of Diana CecilThe huge portrait of Diana Cecil (1596 - 1654) (it is over 2 meters tall) is one[...]
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Oil Painting Tips for Beginners
Want to try oil paints but not sure where to start? Are you worried oil painting might be too difficult?[...]
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Best Oil Paints
There is a very large choice of oil paint out there. And the price range is equally large!A tube of[...]
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