Sheila Chapman

I am a Scottish artist based in Edinburgh, making contemporary figurative paintings and prints inspired by nature and wildlife. I originally studied physics at university and was a patent attorney for over ten years before doing a part time fine art degree at Edinburgh College of Art, while bringing up my young family.  I have been practicing as a freelance artist since 2016, taking part in various exhibitions in Edinburgh and London, as well as creating commissioned paintings for buyers across the UK.

I started learning lithography at Edinburgh Printmakers in 2022 as a way of expanding my art practice by learning something new. It is a time consuming process involving a lot of technical steps which are quite tricky to master, but I enjoy the challenge and sometimes it can be quite meditative. 

My working process usually involves sketching and photographing subjects outdoors and then reimagining them in the studio, as either acrylic paintings, mixed media drawings or prints. I often paint Scottish wildlife, especially birds and other animals spotted in Edinburgh or the East Lothian coastline which is a constant inspiration.