Artist Mari French in her studio
Mari French is an abstract mixed media artist working with acrylics, collage, ink, calligraphy and printmaking to evoke her experience of coastal, moorland and urban landscape. Her layering and erosion of media and use of energetic mark making, create a rich surface history with an emphasis on texture, space and light. Her design background often emerges in her artwork through strong composition and use of typography.
French was born and grew up in Manchester where she studied Art and Design at Stockport College as a mature student, followed by a 20 year career in graphic design. In 1995 she moved to the Isle of Skye where she lived for 15 years developing and exhibiting her increasingly abstract landscapes. French now lives near the North Norfolk coastline, working as a full-time artist, from her studio on a former 1930s RAF airbase.
Mari French has been a finalist in the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, and a finalist in Artist & Illustrator Magazine ‘Artist of the Year’, both at the Mall Galleries, London. In 2022 she was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI).
SELECTED EXHIBITING HISTORY:
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Mall Galleries, 2016-2026.
Bircham Gallery, Holt, North Norfolk, ‘Liminal gestures’ 3 artist exhibition, 2024.
Cromer Open, Artspace on the Prom, North Norfolk, 2025.
Gallery East, Woodbridge, Suffolk, duo & group exhibitions, 2019-2024.
Spring Gallery, Cheltenham, ‘Wintertide’ with Little Buckland Gallery, 2023
Bircham Gallery, Holt, North Norfolk, ‘New Faces’ and Summer Exhibition, 2023.
Little Buckland Gallery, Broadway, Worcestershire, group exhibitions, 2021-2023.
Babylon Arts, Ely, Cambridgeshire, ‘No Frost at Night’, commissioned group exhibition, 2021.
Royal Watercolour Society, Contemporary Watercolours, Bankside Gallery, 2018/2019.
Grapevine Contemporary, Burnham Market, Norfolk, solo & group exhibitions, 2009-2019.
Gallery Different, London, group exhibition (with Sheridan Russell), 2018/2022.
Sheridan Russell Gallery, Fresh and Affordable Art Fairs, 2014-2017.
Cricket Fine Art, Summer exhibition, Chelsea, London, 2017.
Thompsons Gallery, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, mixed exhibitions, 2013-2017.
Artists & Illustrators Artist of the Year, Finalist, Mall Galleries, 2016.
Cley Contemporary 16, North Norfolk Exhibition Project, 2016.
Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition, finalist, Mall Galleries, 2014.
Highgate Contemporary, London, 'Inside Out', 2 artist exhibition, 2012.
Greyfriars Art Space, King’s Lynn, solo exhibitions, 2012-2014.
Inchmore Gallery, Inverness, solo & group exhibitions, 2006/2007.
An Tuireann Art Gallery, Isle of Skye, group exhibitions, 2005/2006.
PRESS & PUBLICATIONS:
EAVA zine ‘Pilgrimages’, @eavazine, June 2021.
Artists and Illustrators magazine, Fresh Paint feature, September 2020.
‘The Woven Tale Press' Literature & Fine Art Magazine, featured artist, October, 2019.
The Artist Magazine, featured artist, July 2016.
'Blyth Spirit', Alan Marshall, Mascot Media 2014.
KL magazine, featured artist, 2014.
'How artists see East Anglian Places', Green Pebble 2010.
French was born and grew up in Manchester where she studied Art and Design at Stockport College as a mature student, followed by a 20 year career in graphic design. In 1995 she moved to the Isle of Skye where she lived for 15 years developing and exhibiting her increasingly abstract landscapes. French now lives near the North Norfolk coastline, working as a full-time artist, from her studio on a former 1930s RAF airbase.
Mari French has been a finalist in the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, and a finalist in Artist & Illustrator Magazine ‘Artist of the Year’, both at the Mall Galleries, London. In 2022 she was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI).
SELECTED EXHIBITING HISTORY:
Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Mall Galleries, 2016-2026.
Bircham Gallery, Holt, North Norfolk, ‘Liminal gestures’ 3 artist exhibition, 2024.
Cromer Open, Artspace on the Prom, North Norfolk, 2025.
Gallery East, Woodbridge, Suffolk, duo & group exhibitions, 2019-2024.
Spring Gallery, Cheltenham, ‘Wintertide’ with Little Buckland Gallery, 2023
Bircham Gallery, Holt, North Norfolk, ‘New Faces’ and Summer Exhibition, 2023.
Little Buckland Gallery, Broadway, Worcestershire, group exhibitions, 2021-2023.
Babylon Arts, Ely, Cambridgeshire, ‘No Frost at Night’, commissioned group exhibition, 2021.
Royal Watercolour Society, Contemporary Watercolours, Bankside Gallery, 2018/2019.
Grapevine Contemporary, Burnham Market, Norfolk, solo & group exhibitions, 2009-2019.
Gallery Different, London, group exhibition (with Sheridan Russell), 2018/2022.
Sheridan Russell Gallery, Fresh and Affordable Art Fairs, 2014-2017.
Cricket Fine Art, Summer exhibition, Chelsea, London, 2017.
Thompsons Gallery, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, mixed exhibitions, 2013-2017.
Artists & Illustrators Artist of the Year, Finalist, Mall Galleries, 2016.
Cley Contemporary 16, North Norfolk Exhibition Project, 2016.
Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition, finalist, Mall Galleries, 2014.
Highgate Contemporary, London, 'Inside Out', 2 artist exhibition, 2012.
Greyfriars Art Space, King’s Lynn, solo exhibitions, 2012-2014.
Inchmore Gallery, Inverness, solo & group exhibitions, 2006/2007.
An Tuireann Art Gallery, Isle of Skye, group exhibitions, 2005/2006.
PRESS & PUBLICATIONS:
EAVA zine ‘Pilgrimages’, @eavazine, June 2021.
Artists and Illustrators magazine, Fresh Paint feature, September 2020.
‘The Woven Tale Press' Literature & Fine Art Magazine, featured artist, October, 2019.
The Artist Magazine, featured artist, July 2016.
'Blyth Spirit', Alan Marshall, Mascot Media 2014.
KL magazine, featured artist, 2014.
'How artists see East Anglian Places', Green Pebble 2010.
