Adele Wagstaff

Adele Wagstaff trained at Newcastle University and the Slade School of Fine Art where she focused on working from the nude in sustained poses. Her practice continues to explore the human figure, anatomy and portraiture through drawing and painting.

She has been shortlisted for the Jerwood Drawing Prize and the BP Portrait Award, and her work has been exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery, Royal West of England Academy, Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Canadian Portrait Academy.

Adele has written two books: Still Life Painting in Oils, 2012, and Painting the Nude, 2015, both published by the Crowood Press, and she teaches at Art Academy London, West Dean College and the Royal Academy of Arts.

Adele is also teaching short courses at the West Dean London Bloomsbury campus. (Please see the link in the Short Courses toolbar on the website)

Describe your approach to teaching.

All students will work individually from the same pose throughout the course. Individual tutor guidance will be given throughout each session. There will also be regular group discussions both during and at the end of the course. There will be a slide lecture on the tutors work/other artists work and artist dvd's during evening activities.
Students will gain a greater understanding of colour and tonal relationships through the study of the observed subject and will develop skills and knowledge in colour mixing and oil painting techniques when painting over an intensive period.

What inspires your own work?

The human form, portrait and everyday objects found around us are my inspiration.
As a violinist I have frequently returned to the theme of musicians rehearsing, including working alongside the Chilingirian Quartet while at West Dean and I continue to have a number of residencies with the Rehearsal Orchestra in both London and Edinburgh during orchestral courses.