Artist Statement
I am a contemporary, mixed media artist, inspired by cities and
landscapes.
My training as an illustrator influences my work and my love of travel inspires the vibrant colour palette that appears in my artwork.
My collage artworks are inspired by places I have been that resonate with me. I often start with an aerial photograph and view it through an abstract lens, transforming the view into patterns of intense colour and shapes.
Before I start each new piece, I hand paint paper using Acrylics in the colours, textures and marks that I need for that particular painting. This reduces my colour palette and allows me to work intuitively when I am creating the collage from torn or cut pieces of paper.
My process involves moving the pieces of paper around, looking for the best balance of colour and pattern before sticking them down. The paper often overlaps and goes off the page, which helps keep the energy and freshness in the work. I keep editing until I have simplified my image whilst retaining the essence and energy of the original place with my abstract interpretation.
Raina Goran
Artist Bio.
I am a contemporary mixed media artist, inspired by the city, landscape, and the sea. Working in acrylic and collage, I capture the essence of a place by abstracting and editing what I see into patterns of intense, coloured shapes, often constructed from torn sheets of hand-painted paper.
I studied illustration at Wimbledon School of Art and went on to work as a Creative Director in the greeting card industry. This background in illustration continues to inform my artistic practice, alongside influences from artists such as Barbara Rae, David Hockney, and Henri Matisse.
I am honoured to be an Associate Member of the Royal Watercolour Society.
I exhibit regularly through open exhibitions, including those held by the Royal Watercolour Society (RWS), New English Art Club (NEAC), Society of Women Artists (SWA), Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI), Chelsea Art Society, Jackson’s Prize, and Linden Hall Studio.
In 2024, I was elected as an Associate Member of the Royal Watercolour Society and received the St Cuthbert Mill Award for All Works on Paper from the Chelsea Art Society.
In 2022, I was awarded the David Gluck Memorial Prize by the Royal Watercolour Society.
I have also undertaken numerous commissions and exhibited with Thompson’s Gallery, London.
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Exhibitions.
Society of Women Artists Annual Exhibition 2024
New English Art Club Annual Exhibition 2024
Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours Annual Exhibition 2024
AAF Battersea.Spring 2024 Represented by Bakery Art Gallery, Islington.
Royal Watercolour Society Open 2024, Bankside.
Collaboration with The London Design Festival at The Bakery Art Gallery, Islington 2023
London Calling, Three Artist Show at Avivson Gallery, Highgate 2023
Chelsea Art Society 74th Annual Exhibition 2023
Royal Institute of Painters in watercolours Open 2023 (Candidate for Election)
Royal Watercolour Society Open 2023
Linden Hall Studio Winter Group Show December 2022
Studio Fridays Art Fair. London N20 October 2022
Colour & Form 2022. Collective Gallery St Albans July 2022
Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours Open Exhibition.
Mall Galleries April 2022 (Candidate for election)
Royal Watercolour Society Open Exhibition. March 2022
Winner of the ‘David Gluck Memorial Prize’ 2022
Linden hall Studio Winter Show 2022
Thompson's Gallery Autumn Show 2021
The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours 2021
Long listed for Jackson’s Prize 2021
New English Art Club 2020
Shortlisted for The Jackson’s Painting Prize. April 2020
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water colours.
The Mall Galleries. 2020
Linden Hall Studio Gallery. Winter Group Show. Kent. 2020
Colour & Form '19 Camden Image Gallery. 2019
Society of Women Artists. Mall Galleries. 2019
The New English Art Club The Mall Galleries. 2019
Linden Hall Studio Winter Show, Kent. 2019
The Royal Institute of Painters in Water colours.2019
Society of Women Artists. The Mall Galleries. 2018