Artist Bio and statement

Eleni NeoBenyon 

I am a 35 year old British Born Greek Cypriot.

I completed a Degree with Honours, in Fine Art in 2009, at The University of Chester. 

My most recent certificates include: 

'Art Therapy Course' - (Centre of Excellence - CPD Accredited and CMA (Complimentary Medical Association) Registered Course - completed - 20/05/22,

Positive Behaviour Management – Level 2 - Team Teach – 26/08/20, 

Special Educational Needs – International Open Academy - International Council for Online Educational Standards (ICOES) - September 2020, and 

Autism Awareness – International Open Academy - International Council for Online Educational Standards (ICOES) - September 2020 

Coming from a family with a catering background and having worked in catering since I helped in the family business and then part time while I was studying in college and for my degree, I continued to work my way up in the catering business, eventually becoming head chef and even setting up my own mobile catering business. Which I later sold as an established business ‘CHEF-IN-A-BOX’ (although it’s unfortunately not kept the name!).

Although I have always loved art since a very young age, with cheffing such a demanding role my art career only began when I left catering in my early 30’s, stemming from a purely private therapy which helped me through difficult times in my life, due long term health conditions Hemicrania Continua and Fibromyalgia. 

After much persuasion from friends and family I finally ‘put it out there’ around September of 2019 and so far I have been overwhelmed by how well it has been received. I’ve truly found my passion, my outlet and therapy. Art gives me immense joy and purpose. 

I believe I have now developed my own recognisable style, I love animals and nature, so they are predominately, but not solely, the subject my work (elephants, giraffes, hummingbirds, ducks, cats, dogs, flowers etc). I adore intense, vibrant colours and love to create majestic, fantastical environments for the subjects of the pieces to morph in and out, pop out or disappear into.

‘Magenta blossom - 24 ct gold leaf’ 

40cm x 40cm 

2020 

Oil on canvas with 24 ct gold leaf 

This piece is one of the first oil paintings which I would consider, now, to be in my recognisable style of painting. I have developed this unique style over the last few years as I had never worked with oils before 2019 and found myself obsessed with mastering my own individual technique with the notoriously tricky medium. During my research I fell in love with and was heavily influenced by the incredible works of British artist Katy Jade Dobson, also, although the complete antithesis the master that is Mr Bob Ross taught me a great deal in terms of techniques using oil paints, and finally my ultimate inspiration from childhood, (after seeing his seascapes in Galleries, I was genuinely blown away) J.M. William Turner, I have been influenced by his work ever since I first saw one. The use of colours, the emotions, expressiveness within his work, the movement, the ambiguous forms of ships and trains and clouds and smoke.  You just get lost within the realms and depth of the paintings, that is what I aspire towards. I believe this piece shows the turning point for my painting technique. From this painting on, I show my own unique, contemporary expressionist style of intense, vibrant colours, majestic or fantastical backgrounds, vibrant colour pallets blurred together, merging but still intense and eye catching drawing the viewer into the depths and the details within the paintings. 

By 2021 I have regularly exhibited and sold artwork at local Art Galleries including Technically Brilliant Art Gallery and Chris Beesley’s Studio Gallery in Warrington. I have now sold work locally and around all around the country including Scotland, London, and Harrogate. Then in March 2021 I had my first international sale with 

‘The Disappearing Herd - 7 - with gold leaf’

(30inch x 24inch/76cm x 61cm) 

Oil on canvas with 24 ct gold leaf, 

going to it’s new home to L.A. in America!

I have just entered two paintings into the VAO – Visual Art Open - UK & International Emerging Artist Award 2021.

‘David Bowie - Drip Portrait’

(30inch x 24inch/76cm x 61cm)

Oil on canvas

And

‘The Magnificent Elephant – No 2-with gold leaf’

(30inch x 24inch/76cm x 61cm)

Oil on canvas with 24ct Gold Leaf 

Vulnerable to extinction (VE)

Additionally, I have an upcoming exhibition with

‘Pensive Western Gorilla’

Oil on canvas

(H60cm x W40cm)

Western Gorilla Classification - Critically Endangered (CR)

Being exhibited in The Virtual Artists Exhibition – ‘Summer Arts Festival’

12th -26th June 2021

Which ‘right now is THE ONLY fully immersive and interactive virtual art gallery in the world. We work in partnership with Robots of London, which is the leading company in Europe specialising in Virtual Reality and robotics.’

I chose to enter this piece as it is a perfect representation of my style of painting as a whole. It contains my most distinctive stylistic elements - the focal point of the piece – the ‘Pensive Western Gorilla’ with its attention to detail shows the element of realism which is often incorporated with my work, as well as its prevalence in itself as a favourite subject matter of mine, animals are more often that not in some way featured within my paintings. The background, in terms of its intense, vibrant multicoloured pallet which the gorilla is disappearing into, forms the majestic hazy depths to his colourful jungle. This use of vibrant colours and the creation of the majestic, hazy depths to the background, with the subject disappearing into/out of, popping out of, is an atmosphere I aim to create in the majority of my work.

Among a wide range of artwork I have created a small collection called ‘Our Endangered World’. As an animal lover and artist I found myself embarking on a journey, in which it was my mission to not only attempt to create beautiful artwork but to capture the majestic beauty of animals who live among us in this ever changing world. 

Furthermore, the desire I had was not only to capture their beauty but also their vulnerability, as well as their strength. I had hoped to create some awareness through my artwork, of some of the incredible animals we share this world with, who are classified as vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered. I felt a sense of responsibility to raise awareness and remind people of the beauty of our animals, before any more of them become extinct from the world we know and continue to destroy.

I create Oil Paintings, Watercolour Paintings, Acrylic Paintings, some photography, digital editing and some mixed media paintings. 

I also take on commissioned work and from September 2019 to date, I have created 16 Commissioned pieces in total. At the moment (March 2021) I am also working on a further 3 commission pieces, two are just drying and awaiting their varnishes and one still to complete. 

I’m also designing a logo for a restaurant business currently and have another business logo to design after this one. 

It is such a unique experience, and a privilege to be trusted with extracting a thought from someone’s mind, creating it in a physical form in this reality and then presenting it back to them-Incredible when you really think about it!

My next challenge is to develop my ‘Fantasy Land’ watercolour series onto large scale canvases using alcohol inks. I endeavour to incorporate different sub-themes within the series including;

‘Hummingbirds’

‘Elephants’

‘Giraffes’

‘Floral’

And potentially many more as I explore the project.

…watch this space!

#neosdesignsart

Find all my links together in one place:

www.linktr.ee/NeosDesigns

Visit my Online Gallery of Artwork at: 

www.neosdesigns-art.com 

Instagram:

Follow @Lendos5

Find my Etsy Shop at:

www.Etsy.com/uk/shop/NeoCreativePrints 

I began creating Epoxy Resin Artwork and The JewelleryCollection while developing my professional practice. I was exploring EpoxyResin as a Finish for my Alcohol Ink Canvas Paintings within my 'Fantasy Land'Series development and realised the potential and endless possibilities forexploration with Alcohol Inks and Epoxy Resin. 

So, it is with great pleasure I can confirm the Launch ofNeosDesigns Epoxy Resin Artwork - The Jewellery Collection on Friday 23rd July2021!!

Shop until your hearts content at www.neosdesigns-art.com/neosdesignsshop

or www.Etsy.com/uk/shop/NeoCreativePrints

NeosDesigns - 'Art, Voice & Soul' - wear it with pride,express who you truly are, show your individuality and your incredibly uniquebeauty! I put my heart and soul into every lovingly handmade piece, so thatyou, can be, you!

All my Jewellery is handmade Epoxy Resin, Necklaces witheither Black Waxed cotton Necklace Cord or Sterling Silver 925 Stamped NecklaceChains.

All Earrings are lovingly crafted with Sterling Silver 925Stamped Earring Hooks or Studs.

The Epoxy Resin Art is created with Epoxy Resin, and someadded surprises including real pressed flowers, handpicked real flowers,Alcohol Inks, Mica Powders, Glitter/Glitter Shards, buttons, found objects,Gold, Silver and Rose Gold Flakes, and crushed gold glass.

Each completely one-of-a-kind piece is a 'Minatare Artwork'to be worn proudly representing the collector’s individuality, uniqueness andbeauty, embracing our differences as individuals.

It takes time for each piece to be, sanded, polished andeven many chain fixtures handcrafted to add extra special unique details,creating exclusive, completely one-off pieces of Jewellery, which willtransform the collector of the Epoxy Resin Art Jewellery to a place of innerbelief, self-worth, and complete confidence in the 'true you', you areone-of-a-kind, magical and beautiful!

Crafted using high quality materials, packaged and ready tobe your 'Art, Voice & Soul' - wear it with pride, express who you trulyare, show your individuality and your incredible, unique beauty!...I put myheart and soul into each lovingly handcrafted piece...so that you...canbe...you! (NeosDesigns-Art Ltd)