Susie Woods expresses vivid colour and rich texture through her contemporary artwork using acrylics and mixed media. Her work explores the relationship between light, shade, and colour in both portraiture and studies inspired by the natural beauty of the world around her.
“In every individual face, I see a combination of shape and colour, enhanced by light and shadow to create mystery and depth.”
“We all have our own personal life journey, which is reflected in the lines and contours of our faces.
The more vicissitudes we encounter along that journey, the more beautiful we become.”
In 2000, Susie moved to Torbay, Devon, where she owned and ran an art gallery exhibiting and selling both commissioned and original works. During this period, she combined her passion for portraiture with her love of music and film, while also using her art to support charities including the Devon Air Ambulance and Dream-A-Way. She created large-scale pieces for celebrities such as Robbie Williams, Jonathan Wilkes, and Nigel Mansell, whose commissioned paintings now form part of his World of Racing F1 collection.
Susie received several awards during this time, including Best Oil Painting at the Stoke Gabriel Art Group in 2001 and the Favourite Painting Award at the 2001 Torbay Art Exhibition. She also donated a giraffe painting to support fundraising efforts following a tragic zoo fire; the work remains displayed in the giraffe house as a memorial.
In 2002, Susie held her first solo exhibition, A Celebration of Colour, followed by a joint exhibition at Haddon Galleries with local artists. A second solo exhibition followed in Kingsbridge in 2003, during which she appeared on local radio and Westcountry Live TV. She was also a finalist on the Richard & Judy show, exhibiting her work at the Royal College of Art in Kensington. Throughout this period, she continued fundraising through her artwork, with support from celebrities including Duncan James.
After taking time away from painting to raise her children and train as a teacher, Susie has recently returned to her art. Following her experience with breast cancer, she has rediscovered both her passion for painting and her determination to make a difference.
“My time away from painting has been shaped by life’s challenges, all of which have made me stronger. I have grown not only as a person, but also as an artist, and this is reflected in my recent work. My paintings feel more intuitive, more powerful, and are a true expression of my love of life.”
