Morag Caister

Her figures are framed with loose brushwork to draw the viewers attention to the way our bodily compositions and posture display our emotions and how our faces betray us by bringing our sentiments to the centre stage. Here, she is asking us to consider that even in our most private moments, we are often closer to each other than we think.

There is an honest nature to Caister’s portraits. The figures are displayed openly and delicately to reveal personality and to build a close affinity to the viewer. Whilst there is a floating, ethereal nature to these pieces, they are also grounded by the completeness of our attachment to the character. This proves to be seductive as it draws us closer to her paintings, strengthening our bond as we embrace the warmth of our interconnectedness to the people around us.

Caister’s work comes from a place of affection and human experience, she aims to capture the individuality of the person that is sitting for her. Describing her work as ‘a summary of what a person is made up of – who they are, the experiences they’ve had and the years they’ve lived’, how we foster and grow our relationships to one another is fundamental to Caister’s practice.

Morag Caister’s work has been presented in prestigious art collections such as the National Gallery and Soho House. After winning Sky Art’s Portrait Artist of the Year TV series and a commission to paint Sir Lenny Henry as a result, she has since emerged as a candidate for Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe: Art & Culture, as well as one of thirty creatives named in the Evening Standard's Art Power List 2023.