About

Born in the United Kingdom in 1974. Fiona Goldthorpe graduated from the University of Johannesburg in 1994 with a National Diploma in Graphic Design. It was during this period she developed a passion for the arts and started to explore Fine Art, alongside Commercial Art (pursuing the latter as a career). “I have a need to communicate pictorially rather than with words. I try to push the limits of realism using both charcoal and graphite. I love these mediums for the drama and contrast I am able to create. For me it is important to feel constantly challenged. Simply imitating reality isn't my primary goal. I feel I've successfully communicated with someone when they identify with the essence of a particular piece on a deeper level, and it brings about new thoughts or evokes certain emotions within them. My current collection is inspired by the great faces and animals of the African continent. Faces etched like maps to an Africa that exists in a timeless world. My aim is to capture the ageless ceremony, dignity and passion of the character - be it an animal or person. Just like the medium I use depicts contrasts, so too is the core of my subject matter. Beauty and grit, strength and humility, power and vulnerability.” After listening to that tiny whisper inside her, Fiona picked up a pencil again for the first time in over 12 years in March 2019 and her first piece entitled “Farai” was entered into the Sanlam National Portrait Awards (South Africa) and was awarded one of the Top 40 Finalists, exhibited at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville. “Its been so exciting to develop, and I love how my audience are supporting my progress. For me it was about being brave enough to listen to that tiny voice inside me and to acknowledge I have a certain gift – yet constantly staying humble enough to know that there is always room for further growth and evolution with each new piece. I try to stay constantly unsatisfied.” In February of 2020 Fiona was selected by Hansford & Sons Fine Art of London as one of a handful of global emerging artists on their ‘Emerging Artist Platform’. Hansford and Sons are a UK based art investment company which guides both collectors and investors both in the UK and internationally. They set up the ‘Emerging Artist Platform’ to help showcase up and coming artists from all around the globe. (www.emergingartistplatform.com/fionagoldthorpe) Fiona Goldthorpe currently lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa.