Biography
Abbey began exhibiting and selling her artwork at the age of fourteen. She studied art at the Dorchester Thomas Hardye School in Dorset, earning the opportunity to work with the Slade School of Fine Art, The Royal College of Art and The Royal Academy of Arts, London.
At the age of eighteen Abbey's artwork was selected by HRH Prince Charles as a finalist for the Young Artists' Britain Competition. Abbey met with Prince Charles at Hampton Court Palace, and her art was displayed alongside artworks by the Prince in an exhibition that toured the United Kingdom.
Abbey Walmsley Fine Art was launched in November 2000. In the spring of 2001, Abbey presented a solo exhibition at the Prince of Wales Trophy, Royal Berkshire Polo Club. Following this, she was introduced to the Newmarket racing scene by some of the most respected racing trainers in England. Abbey placed her second solo exhibition in King Charles II's Apartments at Palace House in Newmarket in September, and received a commission from the British Bloodstock Agency, commemorating their 90th anniversary.
In the summer of 2002 Abbey's work was showcased by Christies (London) for the annual Society of Equine Artists Exhibition. Two of Abbey's paintings were given prominent central positions in two of Christies' key rooms. Abbey was awarded the 'Best Newcomers Award' at a presentation on the opening evening.
'Regarded as one of the youngest and best realist painters in the world, Abbey's art is becoming much sought after. Her art displays both movement and action within her acute portrayal of light, combined with technical ability and the sheer scale of her works. She aims to capture the most difficult illusions of light and movement in her subject matter and is always seeking more challenging images to portray in both pencil and oil paint.'
HARRODS, ART OF LIVING CATALOGUE, SEPTEMBER 2003, Halycon Gallery.
Abbey's own photography is the basis for much of her artwork. She attended the St. Moritz 2004 Polo World Cup, and several of her photographs were used for the St. Moritz report featured in Polo Times Magazine. Abbey also attended the 2004 US Open Polo Tournament in Palm Beach, Florida capturing several exhilarating shots. The high drama caught through Abbey's lenses was featured in the Polo Times Magazine's US Report.
Also in 2004, Abbey established the Abbey Walmsley Fine Art Conservation Outreach Programme. Through this programme Abbey's artworks reach a wide spectrum of viewers and increases public awareness and funding for various wildlife conservation projects.
From May 2004 to August 2006, Abbey's studio was located in Vancouver, Canada. Whilst continuing to paint and sketch, she attended events featuring her artwork, held both private and public showings and exhibitions, and travelled across Canada and the United States taking pictures of her favourite wildlife, cultural, historical and equestrian subjects to expand her photographic archives.
In November 2005 an article and a collection of Abbey's artworks was featured in 'Art of England' Magazine prior to exhibiting both in Dallas and Houston, Texas USA in January and Febuary 2006.
Abbey returned to St. Moritz in 2007 to photograph and experience the Centenary meeting of White Turf – the subject of the oil painting '100th Running – White Turf' and the pencil drawing ' White Turf - Centenary Trotting' and again in February 2008 to capture more of the thrill and excitement from lake St Moritz. In February 2009 Abbey relocated the studio from Zurich, Switzerland to Vienna, Austria.
A prestigious private bank in St Moritz showcased the original oil painting '100th Running - White Turf' throughout the month of February 2009 over the duration of the White Turf event, much to the enjoyment of their clients.
Abbey returned to St. Moritz in 2007 to photograph the Centenary meeting of White Turf – the subject of the oil painting ‘100th Running – White Turf’ and again in February 2008 to capture more of the thrill and excitement from lake St Moritz. In February 2009 Abbey relocated the studio from Zurich, Switzerland to Vienna, Austria. A prestigious private bank in St Moritz showcased the original oil painting '100th Running - White Turf' throughout the month of February 2009 over the duration of the White Turf event, much to the enjoyment of their clients.
In March 2009 Abbey Walmsley Fine Art began talks with Panthera, a leading big cat conservation organisation founded in 2006 whose mission it is to conserve the 36 species of wild cats ( www.Panthera.org ). Abbey Walmsley Fine Art is very proud to have partnered with Panthera to assist with Jaguar conservation efforts. The painting 'Breaking Shadows' will support Panthera's Jaguar projects through the sale of the original artwork and Archival Limited Edition Prints as well as utilising the artwork to bring attention to Panthera's Jaguar Projects. Abbey hopes to develop the relationship further to include Snow leopard conservation.
In September 2009 Abbey was introduced to Room To Read (www.roomtoread.org) by one of her clients. Room to Read is a charity founded by John Wood, who quit his senior executive position at Microsoft to form a global team to work within the rural communities of Vietnam and Nepal. Their aim was to build sustainable solutions to children's educational needs. The Charity has now grown, and provides Schools and Libraries within nine countries. So far it has built 765 schools, 7,168 Libraries and benefited 3.1 million children. To make Room to Read's fundraising efforts as optimal as possible they partnered with Quintessentially, the world's largest private members club (www.Quintessentially.com ) and The Financial Times (www.ft.com). A global auction featuring a number of luxury collector's items took place from 21st - 30th November 2009, raising a total of £106,760.08. The auction included 5 works previously commissioned by one of my a patrons and a donated commission from Abbey that she will begin in the new year. The original paintings - 'Fierce Pursuit' and 'Caught' were showcased on the auction launch evening at Quintessentially Soho to inspire those wishing to bid on the private commission.
In February 2010 Abbey was in Jordan working with Stellan Lind's Roman Army and Chariot Racing Experience and has collected dramatic material for future projects. During Abbey's trip she also had the pleasure of working with The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature down in Wadi Rum at the Oryx Project, and hopes to shortly be using her field work studies to portray this endangered icon of the middle-east.
In the April issue of Art of England published late in February 2010, 'Dynamic Realism - The Art of Abbey Walmsley' was featured over four pages, and succeeded in bringing 'Dynamic Realism' to the attention of many art enthusiasts, collectors and art industry professionals both in the UK and Internationally. A copy of the article can be read by clicking here.
Gallery 27 on Cork Street in Mayfair, London was the chosen location for Abbey's major solo exhibition in March 2010. The exhibition displayed 12 original works, exclusive Artist Proof Limited Edition Archival Quality Prints and new commission-able projects. The event also promoted the organisations Abbey Walmsley Fine Art is partnered with and supported a number of philanthropic projects. The exhibition was very successful in introducing collectors to a new standard of quality within the genre of realism for original artworks. The extraordinary quality of our Archival Prints was also noted and commended.
Following the exhibition, key works of Dynamic Realism continue to be showcased throughout Abbey Walmsley Fine Art's corporate, institutional and private network both in the UK and Europe. .
In January 2012 Abbey attended the Kambala in Moodabidri, Mangalore, India to gather film and still footage of the buffalo racing for her latest and largest artwork, set to be complete by the end of 2012 ready for the next London exhibition.
Abbey frequently travels internationally for private commissions, solo exhibitions and private showcases, photographic opportunities and in support of various philanthropic projects. Most of Abbey's artwork is created on the basis of private commissions, and is held in private, corporate and public collections in England, France, UAE, Ireland, USA, Canada, Greece, Cyprus, Austria, Australia and Africa.
Included among Abbey Walmsley’s influences are Steven Dews, John Constable, John William Waterhouse, Cuneo and Holbein. Abbey holds a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Lancaster University, England.
