tracey swain
Other: etsy.com/shop/FaithToArt
Statement
Landscape has been a lifetime inspiration for my art, from majestic mountains in Snowdonia, dramatic coastal scenery to my local countryside, I feel more alive when outdoors, and never tire of observing the changing seasons, sky, atmosphere and light, the forms and shapes of trees, fields, and hills.
As a Christian landscape artist, my passion is to share my joy at God’s creation through art. I believe the creative energy artists possess is a gift from God and my painting is an act of worship.
My mission is to gently encourage others to acknowledge our creator and potentially plant a seed of faith.
Psalm 9:1 is a true expression of my inspiration
“I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart, I will tell of your wonders” Psalm 9:1
My paintings begin “en plein air”, either gathering sketches or working directly onto canvas. I respond instinctively to the colours and forms before me, experiencing an emotional and spiritual connection to the landscape. Its important for me to create a sense of place and capture elements of weather and atmosphere in my paintings.
My current practise when starting a new painting, is to take a few moments to reflect, pray and invite God to come alongside in my creative process. These precious moments give me a strong vision and inspiration for the painting.
I work in a range of mediums, including oils, acrylics, pastels, collage and watercolour and enjoy experimenting with mark making, expressive colour, composition and techniques of applying paint. I usually finish works in the studio, working from sketches, memory and imagination.
Biography
I completed a Degree in Fine Art 1992 at Coventry Art College, creating large abstract landscapes based on my experiences of walking in the mountains, trying to capture the drama of being in the elements, in big, wild spaces.
After finishing college, I completed an adult tutors qualification and went on to teach art and craft for Coventry Adult Community Education for a number of years. Later, I started work in Children's Centres, and enjoyed facilitating art activities with the children.
The pressures of work and caring for my family left little time to focus on my own artwork but I enjoyed the opportunity to sketch on holidays. I developed a love of painting landscapes outdoors with watercolours, enjoying the spontaneity of the medium. 10 years ago, with more time for myself, I started regularly painting and sketching in my surrounding countryside in Warwickshire.
The artist in me began to flourish, re-connecting with the joy of exploring techniques and mark making with paints and responding to the landscape.
I joined my local Nuneaton art group in, Art Alert in 2017, enjoying opportunities to exhibit and sell pictures, and work on creative projects together.
I started a small art business in 2025 called faith to Art, selling prints and cards of original works at art & craft fairs and on Etsy. I recently started to work with a Northampton based calligraphy artist, to add bible verses to framed prints of my original paintings which have received a very positive response.
I moved to Yelvertoft, West Northamptonshire in February 2026 and I am currently making connections with local art groups and thoroughly enjoying the rural environment.