Dawn Blatherwick is an oil and gouache painter based in Yorkshire, drawn to the quiet poetry of everyday places, objects, and moments. Her work moves between realism and intuition, built through layers and shaped by close observation. Whether I’m painting a still life, a landscape, or the interior of a historic home, I’m always searching for atmosphere  the feeling held within a space or object.

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Still life has become a particularly meaningful part of my practice. Many of the objects I paint carry personal histories: flowers from my dad’s passing, treasured items that belonged to my late mother‑in‑law, and small things that hold emotional weight. Painting these pieces allows me to honor memory in a gentle, reflective way. They help me slow down, pay attention, and explore the stories that everyday objects quietly hold. These works also strengthen my understanding of composition and feed directly into my larger paintings.

Experimentation plays a big role in how my work evolves. Exploring new mediums helps me loosen my approach, rethink my brushwork, and step away from habit. Each material teaches me something different, and those lessons flow back into my oils and gouache, encouraging a more intuitive, expressive way of painting.

My current work is shaped by my residency at Lotherton Hall, where I’m exploring the layered histories of the house and the stillness of the gardens. I’m interested in how places hold memory — the traces of people who lived and worked there, the objects they left behind, and the quiet life that continues in the grounds. This residency has encouraged me to experiment with overlapping motifs, shifting perspectives, and a more contemplative palette.

Alongside my studio practice, I’m a founding member of Castleford Art Space, a community‑driven creative hub offering workshops, exhibitions, and collaborative projects. Building accessible, inclusive spaces for creativity is an important part of my work, and I’m proud to help bring the arts into the heart of my local community.

Across everything I create, my aim is simple: to look closely, respond honestly, and invite the viewer to pause and see the beauty in the layers.