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BiographyAbbey Walmsley’s artistic abilities were obvious from an early age.
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 selected by
Christies (London) for the annual SEA 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.
In November 2002, Abbey’s artwork was
introduced to The Halcyon Gallery (Knightsbridge, London) with the gallery
representing several of her equestrian artworks. Abbey was invited to
participate in the ‘Art of Living’ exhibition from September through November
2003, displaying ‘past and present masters of painting’ at the Halcyon Gallery,
Harrods. Abbey’s artwork was given a first-floor window and was displayed throughout
internal departments alongside works by Picasso, Rembrandt, Warhol, Thorpe,
Hunt, and Harris.
‘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.’
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.
Between May 2004 and 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. Later that year Abbey Walmsley Fine Art further developed the company's philanthropy efforts partnering with the Justin Boots Cowboy Crisis Fund.
In January and February 2006, Abbey held exhibitions in Dallas and Houston, Texas USA. In the second quarter of 2006 Abbey's equine artwork was featured in America's 'Horses In Art' Magazine, and an article featuring her birds of prey paintings was published in the UK based 'Austringer' magazine. Later in August 2006, Abbey Walmsley Fine Art relocated back to Europe and was based in Co. Kildare Ireland until August 2008.
Abbey returned to St. Moritz in 2007 to photograph the Centenanry 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) more information on The Financial Times Seasonal Appeal can be found here: http://www.ft.com/indepth/seasonal-appeal . 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.
Abbey Walmsley's work was featured in the US national polo magazine - Polo Players Edition November / December 2009 edition to find out more visit www.poloplayersedition.com
Gallery 27 on Cork Street in Mayfair, London is the chosen location for Abbey Walmsley Fine Art's next major exhibition in March 2010. The exhibition will display approximately twelve original works, exclusive Artist Proof Limited Edition Archival Quality Prints and new commissionable projects. The event will also promote the organisations Abbey Walmsley Fine Art is partnered with and support a number of philanthropic projects. Further information will be released shortly.
Abbey frequently travels throughout Europe and abroad 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 William Waterhouse, Cuneo and Holbein. Abbey holds a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Lancaster University, England.
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