Ritratti, The Arts Inn
Mar 2022
Emily Rogers
Current Exhibition
The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award
My portrait 'Ellen' is currently being exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery as part of the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award. "The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award celebrates the very best in contemporary portraiture and is one of the most important platforms for portrait painters today. The artworks explore the variety of approaches to portraiture, from the classic to the contemporary, and encourage viewers to reflect on the creativity of the artists’ processes."
British Portrait Painter Based in Florence
Selected Works
Personal statement
I have always been drawn to the tradition of painting from life. There is something unique about closely observing a sitter, responding to the subtle changes in expression, light and colour that happen in front of me, while gradually building a deeper understanding of the person I am painting. A photograph can record a moment, but painting from life allows that moment to be experienced. I am passionate about keeping this tradition alive. In a world where almost every moment can be photographed instantly, I believe there is something increasingly valuable about slowing down and giving someone the time and attention required to paint them properly. The process is deliberate and unhurried, and the resulting portrait has a quality that cannot be achieved by simply copying a photograph. I want to create portraits that feel timeless - not simply recognisable likenesses, but paintings that convey something of the character and presence of the sitter. When working in Florence, I also love bringing portraiture into the experience of travel. Clients sit for three hours each morning, leaving the rest of the day to explore the city, its art, food and craftsmanship. Ultimately, I hope my portraits offer something a photograph cannot: a lasting, tangible record of a person, made slowly and directly from life, alongside a memorable experience of the time spent creating it.
Biography
Emily Rogers
Emily Rogers is a British painter, born in Oxford in 1996. Emily began her art training at Oxford Brookes University, where she undertook an Art Foundation year. She then went on to study Fine Art at Leeds Arts University for three years, graduating in 2018. Wanting to develop her painting skills further, Emily moved to Florence, Italy, and began studying at Charles H. Cecil Studios. Here, she learnt the Old Masters technique of sight-size, whereby the sitter is observed from a distance and painted from life, to scale and under natural light. This technique has been used by masters since the seventeenth century, while its origins lie in the practices of Titian, Van Dyck and Velázquez. Emily will soon be based full-time in Florence, Italy, where she will continue her portrait practice and accept private commissions. Working closely with each client, she creates a bespoke portrait experience that combines the creation of a painted portrait with an unforgettable stay in one of the world's most beautiful cities. Clients typically sit for three hours each morning, leaving the remainder of the day free to explore Florence and the surrounding Tuscan countryside. Drawing on her years living and working in the city, Emily is able to offer personalised recommendations on where to stay, dine and visit, including hidden artisan workshops, traditional craftspeople and lesser-known corners of Florence far from the tourist crowds. The experience is ideal for art lovers seeking not only a timeless portrait, but also an enriching and memorable holiday immersed in the city's extraordinary artistic heritage. While Florence will be her primary base, Emily will continue to accept a limited number of portrait commissions in London each year for clients who prefer to sit in the UK.
