Artsheffield

Kerry’s Beginnings

Kerry Darlington is a Welsh artist, born  1974 in Rhyl, North Wales. She was heavily inspired
by magical fairy  tale picture books and stories during her childhood, and had a  particular love for
Arthur Rackham’s intricate pen and ink work. This  influenced her to take a degree in Illustration,
with intentions of  becoming a children’s book Illustrator. Following this she discovered
‘Art Nouveau’ and the Pre-Raphaelite artists’. She found this work so hauntingly beautiful that
it absorbed her and it still has a profound effect on her own art.

Growth and Recognition

For the last seven years Kerry has built a reputation for her original, decorative designs which became
hugely popular, focusing primarily on trees and nature. She recently took the decision to release
her book Illustrations as Unique  Edition prints – the ‘Midnight Garden’ sold out within a month and her
‘Mad Hatters Tea Party’ was so popular that it sold-out rapidly before  obtaining high values on the
secondary market. Her book illustration work is next to include ‘Peter Pan’ by J.M. Barrie and ‘The Magic
Faraway Tree’ by Enid Blyton.  In May 2012 she was awarded ‘Best-Selling Published Artist’ at a ceremony
by the Fine Art Trade Guild.

Technique and Style

On her original pieces, Kerry works with  texture, acrylics and resin. She works in layers to build up depth and
create more light. She uses resin as a medium rather than a varnish on  the original paintings.
With her ‘Unique Editions’, whilst in  essence they are prints, each one is some way unique. She creates small
3D additions which are hand-worked individually and adhered to the  print. The background is also hand embellished,
and all the work has  resin hand-applied, making each print look like an original painting.

Available from our gallery or here online.