The Breath of the World

Linda Edwards is an artist based in Shropshire with a background in illustration. The following text appears in the Autumn 2025 edition of Art Seen Magazine:

“The power of nature affects us all. My paintings celebrate nature and a sense of place. Trees are potent beings and often form the heart of a painting. Amongst the trees, I place animals and birds. There might be a wolf or a leopard, a hoopoe or golden oriole, a river from which life springs. The animal imagery provides deeper meaning. Birds almost universally symbolise the soul or anima, ‘the breath of the world’ and have a lightness of being.

Medieval, Indo-Persian, and early Renaissance art inspire me greatly. I look to sacred geometry and Islamic patterns, exploring natural forms, such as flowers or stars. My new collection is centred on the earth, the sun, and the moon. The viewer is subliminally reminded of ancient motifs and symbols. They run through the centuries to now, anchoring the present moment.

Poetry is often a starting point. I keep sketchbooks, which I use to form ideas. I spend a lot of time on the initial composition, playing with strong overall shapes to draw in the viewer. This is especially true of my watercolour paintings, as decisions have to be made early on. It is hard to change once begun. As the work develops, it becomes more complex. A narrative is often revealed in details that you do not at first see.

Repetitive patterns form an important part of my paintings. Creating these patterns takes a long time, and the process becomes almost meditative. This energy is held in the painting and resonates strongly with the viewer.

The work is unified by adding pure gold leaf, often applied as a background and inscribed. I love the way the gold catches the light. The moment the gold is finished, the whole painting comes to life.” As Featured in Art Seen Magazine, Issue 17, Autumn Edition 2025.

A PV will take place on Thursday 23 October from 5 pm - 9 pm.