Maria Campbell

I’m still delighted with my entry for the Sketch for Survival competition. It’s not very often that I’m completely happy with a piece of work but this is one occasion when I have succeeded in reproducing the image that was buzzing around my head. Sadly, it wasn’t selected as a winner but that does mean I now have it back.

I wanted to raise awareness of a vulnerable species in my home country. The main threat to Atlantic Puffins is the change in distribution and numbers of small fish, ground predators introduced to breeding colonies, and pollution.

“Don’t Leave” is an A3 mixed media piece on cradled board. The background image contains the words “Don’t Leave” in reference to wanting to keep the puffins safe from the threat of extinction. The message is accentuated by the puffin flying away. The blurriness of the puffin’s wings also portrays the movement of flying. I love how the many layers of resin bring depth and show glimpses of swirls in the water from previous layers. Scraping back into wax layers provided a variation of colour and texture for the rocks. I was inspired by visiting these comical birds on the Isle of May and wanted to create an image different to the standard image of a sitting puffin.

Excerpt from the Sketch for Survival website:

“Sketch for Survival helps to raise vital awareness about species extinction and biodiversity loss while also raising funds for projects around the world.

100 finalists are selected from all competition entries received and ‘win’ a place on our prestigious Sketch for Survival exhibition tour alongside artworks donated by professional and celebrity artists.

The collection is sold via online auction, with all proceeds going to their Project Fund. Sketch for Survival raised nearly £60,000 for nominated conservation projects in 2020, in spite of the Covid pandemic. The youngest contributor was just 6 years old and the oldest was over 80. Entries came from all over the world – China, South Korea, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia & NZ, Canada, the US, Brazil, Iceland, Dubai, Qatar, Turkey, Tanzania, South Africa and most countries in Europe.

In 2021 our competition is back bigger and better than ever, with two weeks at gallery@oxo on London’s South Bank.”

I often find my mind wandering to the sea with waves crashing on the beach. “Tranquility” is an image of nowhere in particular, just a place in my head where I would like to be. The painting is mixed media on a 15 x 50 cm plywood board. The sides are painted and on show in the frame. With the frame the size is 32.2 x 67.5 cm. There are many layers of resin to create the feeling of depth in the waves.

Abstract painted during Covid 19 in October 2020. It is acrylic on cradled board coated with clear resin on a 15 x 30cm cradled board. I particularly like that the sides of the board are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece. This was an exploratory piece for a 1800 x 30cm commission that I have just completed. I see a chinese dragon in it, hence the name “Shenlong”.

Abstract painted January 2021. It is acrylic on canvas coated with clear resin on a 20 x 20 cm box canvas. I particularly like that the sides of the canvas are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece. It is really difficult to see in the photos but the purple and turquoise has a bit of sparkle in it that glints when the light hits it.

Abstract painted during Covid 19 in October 2020. It is acrylic on cradled board coated with clear resin on a 15 x 40 cm cradled board. I particularly like that the sides of the board are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece. This was an exploratory piece for a 1800 x 30cm commission that I have just completed.

Abstract painted during lockdown for Covid-19. It is acrylic on canvas coated with clear resin on a 20 x 20 cm box canvas. I particularly like that the sides of the canvas are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece.

Abstract painted during lockdown for Covid-19. It is acrylic on canvas coated with clear resin on a 20 x 20 cm box canvas. I particularly like that the sides of the canvas are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece.

Abstract painted during lockdown for Covid-19. It is acrylic on canvas coated with clear resin on a 20 x 20 cm box canvas. I particularly like that the sides of the canvas are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece.

Abstract painted during lockdown for Covid-19. It is acrylic on canvas coated with clear resin on a 30 x 40 cm box canvas. I particularly like that the sides of the canvas are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece. It is difficult to see but there are lighter coloured swirls appearing through the black. The photo doesn’t do it justice.

Currently featured in East Linton Art Show and is available for purchase from there. https://elas2020.weebly.com/

Abstract painted during lockdown for Covid-19. It is acrylic on canvas coated with clear resin on a 20 x 20 cm box canvas. I particularly like that the sides of the canvas are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece.

Abstract painted during lockdown for Covid-19. It is acrylic on canvas coated with clear resin on a 20 x 20 cm box canvas. I particularly like that the sides of the canvas are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece.

Abstract painted during Covid 19 in July 2020. It is acrylic on canvas coated with clear resin on a 20 x 20 cm box canvas. I particularly like that the sides of the canvas are also painted and resin coated, creating a wonderful shine over the whole piece. This is a new colour scheme for me. I think the golds and purple give it a luxurious feel.

One of a series of paintings of the sunset at Aberlady on a drive back from North Berwick. Acrylic on box canvas, 40 x 55 cm.

Currently featured in East Linton Art Show and is available for purchase from there. https://elas2020.weebly.com/

Cumbrae at sunset. This was at a work event with all the yachts racing home as the sun set. 60 x 90 cm, acrylic on box canvas.

One of a series of paintings from a trip to North Berwick. 24 x 20 cm, acrylic on canvas.

An image of Edinburgh’s Museum of Scotland not long after completion of the building. 21 x 23 cm, acrylic on box canvas.

A view of Tantallon Castle from the beach. 50 x 40 cm, acrylic on box canvas.

The second of a set of two paintings where I watched the light and atmosphere change over the Crags. The first painting has been sold but can be seen in “Sold Work”. 50 x 20 cm, acrylic on box canvas.

Painted during my travels in Australia with the lovely Julia. : ) 30 x 25 cm. Acrylic on canvas.