A Contemporary British Landscape Painter
About.
Shirley Kirkcaldy [SWAc] is a contemporary landscape painter based on Dartmoor in Devon. Her work is informed by the wild moorlands and dramatic coastlines of the UK, in particular Devon and Cornwall, where a strong sense of place underpins her practice.
Working in oils and mixed media, she creates expressive, emotionally resonant paintings that stem from sketches and memories of being in the landscape. Moving beyond direct representation, her approach is intuitive and process-led, using distinctive mark making, layered colour and visual texture to explore light, space and atmosphere. Each painting is an interpretive response to the landscape, capturing its energy and mood rather than a literal record.
Shirley is an elected academician with the South West Academy of Fine and Applied Art and has exhibited widely. Her work is represented by several southwest galleries and is held in private collections in the UK, USA, Australasia, Far East and Europe. Alongside her studio practice, she teaches a range of workshops and classes.
Further details, including a full exhibition history, are available here.
Process.
As a landscape painter my process begins outdoors. Working from a strong sense of place, I respond intuitively to the atmosphere and emotional resonance of a place rather than literal representation. My paintings sit between abstraction and observation, allowing forms to emerge and dissolve, inviting viewers to engage with them through their own memories and interpretation while retaining the essence of a specific location.
Working initially in sketchbooks, which serve as precious visual diaries, I record intuitive marks as direct responses to the contours, shifting light, and intangible spaces I encounter. These studies inform my studio work, where, through a process of layering, adding texture, scratching and scraping back into the surface, traces of what lies underneath are revealed - much like the landscape itself.
Colour, Texture and Marks
Each mark I make aims to express my response to the energy and mood of a location. Using a variety of tools and materials I work intuitively, allowing the process to lead me towards an eventual conclusion, embracing happy accidents along the way. Every painting is a direct result of days, weeks and sometimes months of application, frustration and ultimately satisfaction, arriving at a point when I am happy to let it go out into the world.
Instagram @shirleykirkcaldyartist
Studio.
Located at the iconic Buckland Abbey, near Yelverton on Dartmoor, my studio is where I design, create, and showcase my work. Visitors can browse and purchase original artworks, fine art prints, greeting cards, and a range of beautifully designed homeware.
I can be found here Thursday to Sunday most weeks 12.00 - 4.00, however, I may be working away from the studio or teaching, so it’s best to check before making a special trip. If these times don’t suit, please get in touch using the link below or call 07393 317751 to arrange an appointment. Unlimited free parking is available in the main car park, which is a short stroll down to the Ox Yard and my studio [opposite the National Trust cafe].
