Marian Hyland
Marian Hyland is a contemporary British artist whose expressive abstract paintings explore the powerful relationships between space, shape and colour. Combining drawing, painting and collage, she creates richly layered original artworks that balance intuition with thoughtful composition, inviting viewers to discover something new with every encounter.
Working predominantly in oils and mixed media, Marian Hyland's creative process is driven by exploration rather than predetermined outcomes. Marian believes in finding the image rather than making it, allowing each painting to evolve naturally through successive layers of expressive mark-making, texture and surface. Every mark presents a new challenge, guiding the work towards a composition that feels both resolved and unexpected.
The inspiration for Marian Hylands's work comes from the overlooked abstract qualities of the world around us. She is fascinated by the textures and marks created through natural environmental processes, weathering, decay, industrial architecture and neglected landscapes. These visual fragments, together with memories and random associations of objects and surfaces, become the foundation of paintings that are both contemporary and deeply atmospheric. The history of the underpainting remains visible throughout the finished work, creating depth, richness and a sense of discovery that rewards repeated viewing.
Rather than depicting recognisable scenes, Marian seeks to evoke emotion through colour, rhythm and texture. Her paintings retain an element of mystery and intrigue, encouraging each viewer to form their own personal interpretation. She hopes every piece not only surprises her during its creation but also surprises those who experience it, forging an individual connection that evolves over time.
Marian Hyland has exhibited extensively throughout the United Kingdom, with exhibitions including the Royal West of England Academy, Mall Galleries in London, Pallant House Gallery, National Trust Waddesdon, the National Open Art Competition, and numerous respected independent galleries and art fairs. Her work has also been shown at venues including the Hayden Gallery, Pedestal Gallery, Little Buckland Gallery and the Obsidian Gallery.