Toni Cogdell Artist Biography
Contemporary Abstract Figurative Paintings
Toni Cogdell is a contemporary British artist known for emotionally resonant abstract figurative paintings that explore memory, identity and the psychology of solitude. Born in Bristol in 1979, she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Bath Spa University in 2002 and has since developed a distinctive painterly language balancing portraiture and abstraction.
Working in oil, acrylic, spray paint and collage, Cogdell produces richly layered works in which solitary figures emerge from textured colour fields. Her paintings sit within contemporary British figurative painting and appeal to collectors seeking works that combine aesthetic presence with emotional depth. The surfaces carry both gestural immediacy and refined detail, creating paintings that reveal new subtleties over time.
Her work has been exhibited widely in the UK and internationally and has attracted private collectors interested in contemporary portraiture and narrative figurative art. She has been recognised by the Royal West of England Academy and nominated for prizes including the Holburne Portrait Prize and the Black Swan Solo Prize.
Cogdell’s paintings are intended as long-term companion pieces — artworks that reward repeated viewing and form lasting personal relationships within a collection.