Pastel is my medium of choice because of it’s flexibility of application, which enables a process that lies somewhere between drawing and painting. I relish the physical, direct connection between myself and the pigment, the process of discovery and endless possibilities that creating brings. I will tackle any subject matter that I find engaging, but it is in Still Life that I perhaps experience the deepest connection.
I strive to challenge myself in developing interpretive work which is responsive and emotive; the process can be a real struggle and not without a degree of anxiety. It is a drive to learn and develop as an Artist however, that pushes me forward.
I like to draw directly from life and will spend a long time arranging objects, sometimes lighting them, before I draw anything. I have a strong sense of composition and arrangement which is evident in the very physical process of setting up a Still Life work. This approach stems from my background in moving image design and working with lighting directors. Someone once observed that a lot of my work has a sense of theatre or drama about it, which I think perhaps is true. 
I approach different subjects in ways I feel that are suitable to the nuances of an idea; some works are very meticulous in execution, others come to life more spontaneously. 
All have common threads of mark making, life and colour. 

Fiona graduated with a BA (Hons) in Illustration and Moving Image design, from Suffolk College and the University of East London, which lead to Illustration commissions and a career in moving image design for television broadcasting. She trained at the BBC before moving to Sky Television in London, working as a moving image Graphic Designer and Art Director. This was followed by 13 years of teaching Graphic Design and Drawing on the Art Foundation Course at Newcastle College and a move back to her childhood County Durham, where she now lives with her family on the border of Northumberland. Fiona’s many years of teaching experience have proven invaluable in helping others in their own discoveries of pastel through her workshops and online demonstrations.



Fiona became a full time Artist in 2015 and is an Associate Artist of Northumberland based Unison Colour, working extensively with their handmade pastels to create her artwork. 
Fiona became a member of The Pastel Guild of Europe in 2019, which recognises achievement and progression in the field and elected as a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America (PSA) in 2022 as well as an Associate Member of The Society of Graphic Fine Art (SGFA).

Fiona exhibits her work regularly both nationally and internationally. Recent exhibitions have included The Pastel Society UK and the SGFA both at The Mall Galleries London, the PSA and solo shows in Northumberland. Fiona received the 2020 Royal Talens Rembrandt Award in 2020 from The Pastel Society UK for ‘Fire of The Deep’ and was honoured the following year to receive the Advancement of Pastel in Modernism Award with the PSA for ‘Finding Honesty’. An additional award from The Pastel Society came in 2023 with The Artist Magazine Award for 'Wonder'. Fiona's work was also selected for the Royal Academy's Summer Show in 2023. Her work is represented by several galleries across the country.

To find out more about Fiona’s work head to www.fionacarvell.com