Oenone Hammersley – Fire UnderWater

Artist Statement

I draw on my training and experience in theatre design to present a wonderful array of visual stimuli afforded me during extensive travels. Known for my imaginative and distinctive use of colour and light, I have progressed from painting wildlife on paper to larger more diverse images of nature in oil on canvas to fantastical depictions of water. I have perfected a method incorporating hand painting with multiple paint pouring. My mixed media technique embraces collage as a means to create texture. The water theme is further enhanced by a resin finish that produces an incredibly lustrous effect. I am deeply concerned about our planet from the destruction of rainforests to pollution and overfishing of our seas. I endeavor to raise awareness through my work and donate regularly to conservation efforts.

Artist Biography

Oenone Hammersley was born in England in 1957 and studied Theatre Design at Wimbledon College of Art, followed by printmaking at the City Literary Institute.  She is a member of Artists for Conservation, the National Association of Women Artists and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Oenone is married and lives in Florida, U.S.A.
Deriving inspiration from her extensive travels on expeditions to Southeast Asia, India, Africa and Latin America, Oenone is committed to furthering the cause of conservation through her work and involvement with organizations such as The World Land Trust and Fauna and Flora International.
After returning to the United States in 2008, Oenone began working on a collection of semi-abstract oils on canvas. These paintings are unique in style and retain the intense colour of her previous work. The focus of her paintings is our natural resources in particular water. Her recent water paintings are visually stunning and capture intangible moments in time and space. Water in all its depths, complexity and purity is gracefully and elegantly orchestrated. . Oenone has perfected a method incorporating hand painting with multiple paint-pouring. Working on cut out wooden panels with mixed media and collage, the water shapes are further enhanced by a resin finish that produces an incredibly lustrous effect.
Museum and private acquisitions of Oenone’s work include the Shell Museum on Crete, the private collection of the Guggenheim families and HRH Princess Fatima Bint Mubarak of the UAE.

Recent Exhibitions Include:
The Arts Club of Washington DC, Magnificent Trees, May 2013.
Studio Gallery, Washington DC, Mixed Show, November to December 2015.
Watergate Gallery, Washington DC, Mixed Show, January to March 2016.
Saphira and Ventura Gallery, New York, Water Paintings December 2016.
Patrick’s Gallery, Washington DC, Water and Wind, November to December 2018.
Walter Wickiser Gallery, New York, Water Paintings, April to May 2019.
Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington DC, Chroma Art Awards, November to December 2019
LA Art Show, LA USA, Walter Wickiser Gallery booth, 5th to 9th February 2020.
Art on Paper Art Fair, NY USA, Walter Wickiser Gallery booth, 5th to 8th March 2020.
Athenaeum, Alexandria VA, USA. Water paintings, 30 February to 6 March 2022.
Walton Fine Arts, London, UK. Ring of Fire Paintings September to December 2023.
Art Wynwood, Miami, FL USA, Water Paintings at Walter Wickiser Gallery booth, 14 to 18 February 2024.
Seattle Art Fair, WA,USA, Water paintings at Walter Wickiser Gallery booth 25 to 28 July 2024.
Art Miami, FL, USA, Water paintings at Walter Wickiser Gallery booth 3 to 8 December 2025.