" I draw inspiration from classical figuration, along with contemporary painting methods to create pieces that are both timeless and deeply relevant today. I find the pale and shapely body of the female form in many renaissance artworks, draw me away from the narrative within the painting, isolating the figure, becoming statuesque."
Central to Michelle Watson's work is a commitment to amplifying women’s voices, addressing themes of identity, femininity, and the societal perceptions of ageing and beauty. Her figurative practice invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of womanhood, weaving together abstraction, symbolism, and personal experience to create deeply resonant visual narratives.
Strongly influenced by Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, and Marlene Dumas, a pivotal moment in the artist’s development came with the discovery of Jenny Saville and Henrik Uldalen—both of whom impacted not only her painterly technique but also her thematic focus. A chance meeting with Uldalen at her recent solo private view further reinforced a shared artistic ethos, grounded in emotional honesty and physical vulnerability.
Alongside visual influences, Michelle's conceptual approach has been shaped by the writings of Susie Orbach, Caitlin Moran, Naomi Wolf, and Miranda July. These texts opened up a deeper exploration of the female body as both subject and medium, where the conversation between emotional experience and brushstroke becomes inseparable. Her interest in the effects of time, hormones, and ageing on the female form is evident in her work, where each mark on the canvas may represent a thread vein, an age spot, or the quiet resilience etched into the skin by life itself.
Drawing has been an essential part of her life from an early age—initially a way to document and entertain, and now, a critical tool for capturing fleeting moments of intimacy and transformation. Her technique often involves working directly onto raw cotton or linen, embracing its imperfections and allowing the texture of the material to influence the composition. Using a weak ink-based wash to create initial shadows, she then builds upon these forms with oil paint, allowing the figure to gradually emerge in a process that mirrors the evolving body itself.
Inspired by Renaissance depictions of the female form seen during her travels to Venice and Florence, she isolates her figures from traditional narratives, rendering them as statuesque and almost suspended in time. Yet, while rooted in classical figuration, her approach is firmly contemporary—offering a fresh and honest perspective on women’s lived experiences today.
Michelle often works with friends as models, capturing a diversity of bodies and perspectives, and creating a space for shared vulnerability and strength. Through her paintings, she seeks to challenge conventional ideals of beauty and inspire broader conversations around the natural ageing process, body image, and female identity.
Her background in theatre, years living in Asia, and journey through motherhood all inform a multifaceted practice that continues to evolve. Though her visual language is distinctive, she remains open to change, constantly exploring new materials and ideas while staying true to her core values.
Through each canvas, Michelle gives voice to the contradictions, anxieties, and quiet triumphs of contemporary womanhood—transforming them into something visible, tangible, and enduring.