Delia Cardnell RI

Statement

I mainly paint landscapes, portraits and still life.

My landscapes are usually semi-abstract rather than photographic, and I think it's important to capture the atmosphere and essence of a place.  

The compositions of my still life feature wild flowers, or exotic plants and often incorporate paintings, furniture and views through windows and doorways. I use rich colours, patterns and textural variations.

I enjoy the challenge of painting people of different ages, races and facial features, and I endeavour to capture the personality and individuality of the sitters in my portraits.

Methodology

I mainly work with liquid acrylic, but I enjoy using watercolour as it is a challenging, versatile medium with a unique luminosity and fluidity. 

Before painting I often complete several pencil sketches or drawings from different angles and viewpoints to help gain a familiarity and understanding of the subject. These drawings are used later with notes for reference.

I paint on thick hot pressed paper which is stretched onto a board. I start using a limited palette adding and mixing colours as the painting progresses. I experiment using various techniques to achieve spontaneous results, and for subtle tones and blending I use delicate overlapping brush strokes.

For the final stage I stand back and view the painting through a mount. This helps me to decide if a painting needs any additional work before being framed. 

Bio

Delia was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours at the age of 25.

She served on the RI Council when she was a young artist and won awards such as the Laing Art Competition, the RI Winsor & Newton Young Artist Award and the June Stoke-Roberts Bursary by the Worshipful Company of Painter Stainers. 

Her paintings have been used as greetings cards for the Artists General Benevolent Institution at the Royal Academy of Arts, and for Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders).

She was voted to serve on the RI Council for a second time.

Delia was invited by the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition to give a painting demonstration in the Mall Galleries. She has also given advice and painted in the gallery many times during RI Exhibitions.

Open Exhibitions include the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, Royal Watercolour Society, Society of Women Artists, Royal Society of British Artists, New English Art Club, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and an exhibition of selected paintings held at the National Portrait Gallery.

Guest curator Tabish Khan has selected one of Delia's portraits for the exhibition, Beyond the Prize, held at Mall Galleries in April 2025.

Scholarships, Awards, Prizes

2019 - The Richard Plincke RI Prize for Colour

2021 - The Debra Manifold RI Memorial Award, presented by the Linda Blackstone Gallery for the most innovative painting in the RI Exhibition

2024 - The Richard Plincke RI Prize for Colour