Venetia Syms graduated from the Hatherley’s School of Fine Art with a diploma in Portraiture in 2014. Prior to this she studied traditional skills for a year at Charles Cecil Studios in Florence and subsequently attended the University College Falmouth where she studied drawing. Her paintings have been shown at a number of exhibitions in the UK, Holland and Zimbabwe since graduating and she appeared as a contestant on the Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the year 2015 program. Painting landscapes in Zimbabwe involved holding a solo show in Harare, which featured her 'Balancing Rock' series in 2016. Venetia won the Bath and West Art Scholarship for which she exhibited her work on the Brecon Beacons in 2017/2018. Venetia currently paints both in London and Dorset.
"Having in the past painted in a more formal manner, I have developed over time a more contemporary approach using some of the traditional disciplines. I enjoy experimenting my style through the medium of the natural world. My work is inspired by my love of dramatic beauty. My paintings are bold both in the use of colour and handling of paint. I love exploring the effects of pattern, colour and texture on my subject. Seeking atmosphere, I work in varying degrees of abstraction. My process involves applying layers of colour and texture to create a fearless statement, 'celebrating' nature with a 'celebration' of colour. I love the frenzy and excitement that comes from a large, mixed palette of colour.’’