I have no artistic talent whatsoever but if I did I think that I would paint like Rozanne Bell. I say this because I do enjoy a splash of vibrant colour and that is certainly what you get with a Rozanne Bell composition. I have been thinking about livening up my home office space of late and I am sure that one of her pieces would be the perfect antidote to what necessarily has to be a rather functional space.

Out of Africa

Rozanne was born in Zimbabwe and lived there for 40 years. She was inspired by the landscapes, flora and fauna of Africa which she depicted with her own flair and wit. She exhibited across the continent and many collectors were enthused by her work. Her paintings also caught the eye of tourists to the region and an international following then developed. Her work became a feature of many commercial buildings in several different countries as well as in private collections around the world.

Over to England

In 2002 Rozanne moved to England and the change of scene threw up new inspirations for her paintings. She became much enamoured with the Dorset countryside and the Cornish coast which now influence her approach to her compositions.

Rozanne’s naturally flamboyant and sunny disposition together with her sense of fun is reflected in her approach to her art. Her work is vibrant, bold and busy with a wonderful depth of colour and great texture achieved through the use of mixed media. Her style is somewhat naïve which gives the pictures an instant appeal and sunny nature just like her personality. Her subject matter is diverse and encompasses striking fields of poppies, atmospheric woodland, urban scenes and coastal villages. She has also produced figurative pieces which are whimsical and charming in equal measure. Each painting feels contemporary yet timeless and would suit a variety of rooms in the home.

The Office

I don’t think that my rather meagre budget for the office revamp would stretch to an original painting although having said that, Rozanne Bell originals do start at around £500 which is a comparatively modest investment. As I think the space would benefit from the inclusion of more than one piece I might have to stick to prints. Her uplifting and vibrant paintings of poppies would be great choices with their splashes of bright red to liven up the space. These paintings are so cheerful and bold they are just what I need in my office which currently looks terminally dull and frankly extremely dated! I need to be inspired by my working environment and right now I simply am not.

The right art can totally transform the feel of any room in an instant. Everyone has their own taste and certainly Rozanne Bell’s work wouldn’t be for everyone but I love it and it just happens to be perfect for the project at hand. It will probably take me longer to choose the paint colour for the walls that the right paintings!

Article by Sally Stacey