Alice Astell

Alice Astell

I am absolutely delighted to be representing Alice Astell exclusively in Central Art Gallery. Alice paints in oils and her style is incredibly unique.

Alice is an emerging contemporary figurative painter based in northern New Zealand. She studied drawing and painting at the Slade School and Byam Shaw School of Art in London, attaining a B.A. (Hons) Degree in Fine Art (Painting) from Wimbledon School of Art. After several years working as a self-employed artist, she re-trained as a lawyer specializing in criminal and police law. In 2014, Alice moved to New Zealand where she has returned to painting full-time. She exhibits regularly in NZ, was a solo panelist in the NZ Art Show 2017 and is a finalist in the Clifton Art Prize 2017.

Alice has also been shortlisted as finalist for the Walker & Hall Art Award 2018, and the Hibiscus Bays Art Award 2018 plus the Kumeu Art Award 2018.

 Artist statement: - I am interested in painting the human image; the portrayal of emotions such as love, anger, lust, anxiety, grief and remorse, human frailty and the human condition is what I try to portray. Some images are drawn from my experiences of working as a criminal defense solicitor and sometimes there are overt legal or biblical references, but whatever the setting I try to achieve through oil paint an authenticity and potency about the figures and the environment they inhabit.