Ellie Eveleigh
I’m Ellie, an acrylic landscape painter currently living in South Devon. I graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2019 with a degree in English Language, but my heart has always been in the world of art.
Throughout my life I have indefinitely felt a connection with the ability to create; my hands always drawn (quite literally) to pick up a pencil, a pen, a paintbrush. But with age and plenty of practice and experimentation, I found myself at a point where I was beginning to learn what subjects I had the most pleasure in creating and, for me, it was landscapes. I first discovered my fascination with mountainous landscapes when I was around 16, during my GCSEs at and early A-Levels during Art class. I think I derived it from my love of the fantasy genre where fantastical scale and magical, majestic lands shaped other worlds. Something about those vast, dramatic lands with almost incomprehensible scales made me want to recreate them somehow. Mountains hold a great majesty to them, and if I couldn’t see them in real life everyday like I dreamed, I would have to paint them instead! I learnt that I loved the way layering blocks of colour, representing the light and shadow, built the foundations of structure in a landscape scene. My work focuses on light and how it creates beauty and depth in both natural and manmade landscapes. I want people to feel a sense of nostalgia when they look at my work, using it as a form of escapism from everyday life, but – in particular with my manmade landscape paintings which are from photos of my own – as a way of seeing beauty in the everyday.
Interview with Ellie Eveleigh
Be inspired by Ellie Eveleigh’s, aka elleveart, journey to become a professional artist and why she focuses on mountains.
Ellie Eveleigh is an acrylic landscape painter currently living in South Devon. She graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2019 with a degree in English Language, but her heart has always been in the world of art. Throughout her life, she has indefinitely felt a connection with the ability to create. But with age and plenty of practice and experimentation, she found herself at a point where she was beginning to learn what subjects she had the most pleasure in creating and, for her, it was landscapes.
What is the best tip you were told early in your career?
Be more free with your art. And, what I mean by that is don’t restrict yourself to trying to achieve perfection. Believe me, as a perfectionist myself I always find that VERY hard to follow, but some of my best work has been created when I didn’t spend ages planning or overthinking it. I very rarely draw out my landscapes before I paint them, I usually like to just go straight in with the brush and see how it turns out from there. This is a great way of allowing yourself to paint what looks and feels right, even if you’re trying to recreate from a reference image, and carries across your artistic style more clearly to your audience.
When did your love of art start? Did you always want to be an artist?
My love for landscape art actually started when I played a video game called Skyrim for the first time. I gamed to wind down from school as an escape from my anxiety, and the fantasy world of idyllic mountainous landscapes and forests of Skyrim became a comforting place. I wanted to recreate that feeling creatively somehow, and that’s when I started painting. It was something about the silent majesty of mountains that drew me in, and the way the shapes of light and shadow when painted together, almost in a paint-by-numbers technique, formed the foundations of the landscape.
What is your favourite Daler-Rowney product and why?
I couldn’t say I have a specific one, as the acrylic paints I use bring my paintings to life and the variety of brushes are what creates them! What I can say, though, is that I love using the System 3 brushes for the detailing in my paintings.
How has social media helped your career?
I would have to say that Instagram is what has started my art career. For so long my friends and family were urging me to make an account just for my art, and for so long I put it off because I didn’t think it would go anywhere. It was only until the COVID pandemic when I spent a lot more time painting and building up a portfolio on Instagram that resulted in a lot of attraction because people resonated with my work as a form of escapism from everything. Instagram has meant I can connect with other artists, companies such as Daler-Rowney and viewers from all across the world.
What would be your advice for new artists just starting up?
Create what makes you feel something. That way you will feel more inspired and motivated to keep practicing, and your love for what you’re creating will show through your work. Also, don’t put yourself under too much pressure. Art should be a relaxing and expressive experience for yourself and the people who view it. Your art should be an extension of you.
What inspired you to pick up a brush and start painting?
I come from a very artistic family and I started drawing at a young age. It was only until around the age of 16 I found a particular love for painting landscapes.
What is the best tip you were told early in your career?
Be more free with your art. And, what I mean by that is don’t restrict yourself to trying to achieve perfection. Believe me, as a perfectionist myself I always find that VERY hard to follow, but some of my best work has been created when I didn’t spend ages planning or overthinking it. I very rarely draw out my landscapes before I paint them, I usually like to just go straight in with the brush and see how it turns out from there. This is a great way of allowing yourself to paint what looks and feels right, even if you’re trying to recreate from a reference image, and carries across your artistic style more clearly to your audience.
When did your love of art start? Did you always want to be an artist?
My love for landscape art actually started when I played a video game called Skyrim for the first time. I gamed to wind down from school as an escape from my anxiety, and the fantasy world of idyllic mountainous landscapes and forests of Skyrim became a comforting place. I wanted to recreate that feeling creatively somehow, and that’s when I started painting. It was something about the silent majesty of mountains that drew me in, and the way the shapes of light and shadow when painted together, almost in a paint-by-numbers technique, formed the foundations of the landscape.
What is your favourite Daler-Rowney product and why?
I couldn’t say I have a specific one, as the acrylic paints I use bring my paintings to life and the variety of brushes are what creates them! What I can say, though, is that I love using the System 3 brushes for the detailing in my paintings.
Products Used
Graduate Acrylic Paint
Graduate Multi-Technique XL Brush
Graduate Multi-Technique Brush
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Acrylics
Graduate Acrylic Paint
Graduate Acrylic is an affordable, water-based paint range developed for students, hobbyists, and beginners seeking consistent quality and performance. These medium-body acrylics are smooth and easy to handle, offering excellent coverage for large-scale projects or everyday practice. Quick-drying and water-resistant once dry, they are ideal for classroom use and for artists working on multiple layers. […]LEARN MORE -
Brushes
Graduate Multi-Technique XL Brush
The Graduate XL Brush range offers oversized brushes specially designed for artists working on large-scale pieces across traditional, mixed media, and urban techniques. With ergonomic, balanced long handles, these brushes provide comfort and control for extensive indoor and outdoor projects. Handmade in the Dominican Republic, the range builds on the popular Graduate collection, delivering professional […]LEARN MORE -
Brushes
Graduate Multi-Technique Brush
The Graduate Brush Assortment offers a versatile range of brushes suitable for beginner artists and students. This collection features six different hair blends, including soft synthetic filaments, sable mix, hog bristle, and other blends designed to deliver excellent performance across acrylics, oils, watercolours, and mixed media. Each brush has an ergonomic pearl white handle with […]LEARN MORE
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