About the Artist
Elizabeth Cheek is a visual artist from Cambridgeshire, UK, whose work combines realism and abstraction through layered mixed media and oil painting. Drawing inspiration from her South African heritage, global travels, and the wild beauty of nature, she creates soulful, vibrant works that explore freedom, joy, and our connection to the natural world.
In 2012, Elizabeth earned a degree in Contemporary Lens Media at the University of Lincoln, where she developed a fascination with light and imagery and exhibited her work in national and international group exhibitions. She continued working across various creative fields, including décor art sold commercially, before a turning point led her back to painting as a more personal and intuitive practice. She recently completed the Milan Art Institute’s Art Mastery Program and continues to develop her work as a professional artist.
Now based in Brighton, Elizabeth works from her home studio near the sea, developing new work inspired by both ocean life and the wildlife of the savanna, with a growing focus on conservation and collaboration. Her work invites viewers into a space of joy, wonder, and appreciation for the strength and beauty of the natural world.
Artist Statement
Art is my way of exploring the world within and around me. Traveling and immersing myself in nature have revealed its wild, unbounded beauty, inspiring joyful memories that continue to fuel my work. My paintings centre on animals and portraits, reflecting their beauty, strength, and serenity, while also using them as mirrors to explore the untamed parts of ourselves.
Spiritual exploration, rooted in yoga and its philosophy, often manifests in the first layers of my paintings as the sacred ‘Flower of Life.’ It represents connection, the idea that everything is part of the same whole and that we are not separate from the natural world. Though it is not always visible in the final layers, it remains beneath the surface, anchoring the work in unity and belonging.
Working in layers of mixed media using collage, acrylic inks, markers, spray paints…before adding oils for depth and vibrancy allows me to balance freedom and expression with focus and refinement. I strive to create works that are soulful and uplifting, evoking a sense of freedom and awe, and encouraging viewers to reconnect with the wild and joyful spirit within themselves.
