This summer I went to Livingstone’s Cave on the tiny isle of Ulva just off the isle of Mull. first inhabited 5000 years ago, set high above the sea, light is cast through a small opening onto a vast wall of rock at the rear; colours glow in the darkness. This little painting is my first successful attempt to capture the luminosity and presence of this hidden ancient and vast space. Painting in egg tempera in transparent layers, working instinctively, I allow the painting process to take over, so I am never quite sure of the outcome, trying to reinvent the space through my mark making, to see just how far I can distil the subject to its essence in a small panel. This painting was finished in one sitting late at night after many failed attempts.
Nina completed a BA in fine art at the Slade (1989-1993) and a postgraduate diploma at the Royal Academy (1993-96). She has had a number of solo exhibitions with the Fine Art Society and Marlborough Fine Art, London as well as at the Solo Contemporary, British Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery with Purdy Hicks. Her group shows include Guerlain Foundation for Contemporary Art, Paris and Maruani Mercier Gallery, Brussels & Knokke. Her work can be found in international collections, such as Hiscox Plc, Barclays Capital, Land Securities, UCL Art Museum and David Roberts Foundation. She lives and works in Westcombe, Somerset.
