THIS LIFE GEORGIE BELL

The young painter has won acclaim for her big, bold, colourful canvases. As she prepares for a new show, she tells us how she finds inspiration everywhere – including in interior design

- Catherine Coyle

Georgie Bell is busy planning her next solo show. After a sell-out exhibition at the beginning of 2020, she’s got everything crossed that Covid restrictions won’t prevent her from hosting another in 2021. The 25-year-old thrives on company and, while the three-month summer lockdown didn’t really affect her daily studio routine, she’s keen to reconnect with the world. “I really love socialising and being around people,” admits the Inverness-born abstract artist.

Most of Bell’s work is commissioned and she goes out of her way to ensure each piece speaks directly to the client for whom it is destined. She sees the canvas as an extension of its new owner’s life, so she integrates their home into her work, considering everything from the way the light might stream into the room to the frame that would be most appropriate for it. To her, this is not just an isolated art purchase; it’s a part of its owner’s character. It’s also the way she hopes her work can be accessible to everyone.

“I’ve always wanted my paintings to be something that everyone could have,” she explains. “I’m not pretentious and my customers come to me from all walks of life, which I love.”