Framed Size 41″ x 44″
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.