Maria Perry

Belfast based artist, Maria Perry, graduated from the University of Ulster with a BA Honours in Fine and Applied Arts in 2003. Since then she has been involved in a number of group and solo exhibitions throughout Northern Ireland, including the annual Royal Academy exhibition. She was awarded the Spires Art Prize in 2003 and has exhibited a number of times with the Omagh based gallery. The subject of Maria’s work is essentially influenced by her surroundings but the most important themes that are always present in her practice are colour, light and atmosphere. "The fluctuations between flatness and depth, abstraction and representation, the contrast between light and dark and the process of painting itself all play important roles in my work. My practice is often informed by my environment. However regardless of the subject, my aim is always to create a piece of work that is atmospheric and captures the essence and spirit of the scene. Through the medium of paint I endeavour to create almost magical and ethereal images that transport the viewer to new surroundings or remind them of a long lost forgotten place."