Suzanne Kemplay

Suzanne is a contemporary Scottish Still Life and Portrait artist. She grew up in Edinburgh in an environment that surrounded her in art. Her parents were independent dealers in 20th century Scottish Art, specialising in the work of the Edinburgh Group which included her Grandfather, Eric H M Robertson (1887-1941) and his first wife Cecile Walton (1891-1956).

Suzanne graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in 1988 with a BA (Hons) degree in Drawing & Painting. On leaving college, she set up a studio painting commissioned portraits. Suzanne then travelled, living in California and London before returning to Edinburgh and starting a family in 1999. She has exhibited her work in Scotland since 2004.

Some of the painting techniques she uses include elements of those being used in the 17th/18th century but equally there are influences of 20th century Scottish Art.

"My style of painting is traditional and I use colour and light to give my work a contemporary vibrancy. For me the process of working from life is important to capture the colours of the fruit and flowers as I see them. My work is predominantly in oil and to produce the depth of colour, I use a technique of under painting in opposite colours, combined with building up colours in layers over days or weeks. I'm not seeking to replicate the still life work of the past. Much as I am influenced by the 17th century Spanish still life masters, the Dutch artist Vermeer and many others. I am equally influenced by many Scottish artists from the 19th / 20th century and seek to maintain a contemporary element that reflects my story."