Artworks by Olivia Miles

I'm an abstract painter based in a small home studio in Rugby, Warwickshire. I've painted for as long as I can remember, but 2024 was a turning point, that's when I found my way into abstract acrylic work, and it changed both my art practice and my daily life. Painting stopped being just something I loved and became a genuine creative retreat.

My work is inspired by the natural world, especially its fleeting moments of beauty and wonder. I'm not interested in painting these moments literally but instead I want to capture their essence in abstract form. My current collection came out of watching a storm from a distance: I was stood in a place of safety in my garden and over the fence, in the far distance, I could see how the storm transformed the sky into a luminous expanse of orange and rather than being something frightening, its immense natural power becoming unexpectedly serene, and that shift in perspective is really at the heart of this new body of work.

My process starts with a colour palette, then I work with a range of tools to build up marks and texture in layers, letting the composition emerge as I go. I like leaving room for accidents, some of my favourite moments in a painting have come from something unplanned.

I'm applying to Artfinder because I'm an emerging artist looking to grow my audience and build a sustainable career from my work. I already run my own online shop, selling original paintings and postcards through my website, and I manage my own listings, customer contact, and shipping so I understand what's involved in fulfilling orders and shipping artwork safely, including internationally. What I'm looking for from Artfinder is a platform that can connect me with collectors beyond my existing following, while I keep developing as an artist and growing that side of my practice.