Biography

Hola! I’m Lucy! I’m an English artist and educator and I’m obsessed with all things vibrant and tropical. I live in Shrewsbury, and I love the juxtaposition of all things exotic against this quintessentially British rural landscape with rolling hills and ancient hill forts - so hence the name - SHROPSHIRE TROPICALIA!

I have lived and travelled extensively in South and Central America - particularly Peru and Mexico - and this has fuelled my energetic love of life and bright, vibrant colour palette. My work is all about finding beauty, hope and joy in the everyday; juicy fruit, verdant plants, kitsch packaging, wild patterns - everything that is colourful and full of life. Food & drink and the sensual experience are recurring themes in my painting. All the senses sight, touch, taste, smell and sound come into my work in various forms: the bright yellow of urgent lemons, the texture of skin, peel and fur; traditional woven fabrics collected from travels, heady cocktails, books and vinyl records.

The genre of symbolic still life or vanitas is my go-to subject, but I also love to paint house, pet or people portraits and landscapes en plein air and regularly take on personal commissions that bring joy to their owners, preserving treasured memories and heirlooms in a unique bespoke painting.

My paintings often include samples of interesting typography and text, and I like to give them titles rich in imagery - I think this comes from my father (Poet Richard Caddel) and I see this as useful way to multiply meaning and add depth to the work.

I paint in all mediums but I love to use gouache and acrylics for speed and intensity of colour (I eat fast and I paint fast!). However. my work is constantly evolving. Recently I’ve started to add layers in oils to increase richness and depth in the work, and I'm also really enjoying experimenting with watercolours, layering translucent, prismatic veils of colour to create luminosity. ‘Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it’ Paul Cézanne

Lucy Caddel artist with a brightly coloured painting of a Pineapple and a tequila bottle
A woman in a bright pink suit stands smiling in an art gallery, with colorful still life paintings behind her. The prominent painting features green grapes, a blue and white jar, a green bottle, and various snacks, painted with vivid, energetic brushstrokes.

EXPERIENCE:

BA HONOURS FINE ART UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE

PGCE GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

ART EDUCATOR 2007- PRESENT

EXHIBITED AT:

POWYS CASTLE - SOLO SHOW September 2026

SMAG - 2022, 2024, 2026

SOULTON HALL - SOLO SHOW: THE POMEGRANATE’S LEGACY 2025

ARTS KEELE 3 COUNTIES 2025 (AUDIENCE AWARD)

HERBERT MUSEUM & ART GALLERY 2025

BERWICK HOUSE 2025 - PRESENT

COLOUR NOW, GATEWAY GALLERY 2025

ROYAL CAMBRIAN ACADEMY 2025

BROADWAY ARTS FESTIVAL FINALIST 2024

WARRINGTON ARTS FESTIVAL OPEN FINALIST 2024

GLOUGLOU - SOLO SHOW 2024

TY PAWB BIENNIAL- 2022, 2024

MOMA MACHYNLLETH ‘SECRET’- 2023

QUBE -2024

MRS JONES ARTSHOP 2022

THE PARADES 2024-2025

ARTISAN LAB 2025

FOOTPRINT GALLERY, IRONBRIDGE 2024

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