Profile: Hiroko Lewis

Japanese artist Hiroko Lewis is based in Sussex, where she creates semi-abstract mindscapes inspired by her local environment.

After graduating with a degree in Fine Art from Kanazawa College of Art, she pursued a career as artist, porcelain pattern designer, and illustrator in Japan, where she exhibited widely, including at the prestigious National Art Centre in Tokyo. 

Since moving to Brighton in 2011, she has expanded her media repertoire to include metal leaf and patination. She writes: "I am fascinated by the glow of haku metal materials and patination which add extra dimensions and colours, allowing a degree of expression that normal paints cannot achieve. I 'go with the flow'  of these chemical reactions to create patinas which are then integrated with oil paint and other traditional media to form a collaboration between unrestrained nature and control."

Her work has been displayed at various venues including the ING Discerning Eye and SWA at the Mall Galleries in London, the Kimberly Clark corporate HQ, and a number of Brighton Artists Open House festivals. “Resonance,” a major commission executed in oil, metal leaf, and patination for law firm Cripps LLC, was completed in February 2017. Comprising ten panels, and measuring 1.5m x 5m, it fills the lobby at their Tunbridge Wells offices.

Exhibition Info

SWA: The Society of Women Artists 2020 "Mother Tree" was selected for their 159th annual exhibition. This year, it is online from 22 Sep to 30 Dec. Visit: society-women-artists.org.uk

Artists Open Houses 2020 will be held from 21 Nov to 20 Dec. This year, there are private view appointments available on weekdays and public opening at weekends.

Christmas Open House 2019 After two successful Summer seasons, Hiroko opened her house, One-Six-Nine, for the Xmas AOH Festival for the first time (weekends from November 23 to December 8). Visit: aoh.org.uk

Edinburgh Art Fair 2019 Hiroko joined this prestigious art fair from 21–24 November, represented by Frickleton Fine Art. Visit: www.artedinburgh.com

Fresh: Art Fair at Ascot Racecourse 2019 "Basking in Reflected Glory" and others was presented by Forest Gallery from 20–22 September, 11am to 6pm (Sunday until 5pm). Visit: freshartfair.net

SWA: The Society of Women Artists 2019 "Unhurried Moon" was selected for the 158th Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London. 24–29 September. Visit: society-women-artists.org.uk

Guildford Arts Summer Exhibition 2019 at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre "The Murmuring of Water," "Glimpse" series, and others displayed, 3–18 July, in Guildford. 

Artists Open House 2019 in Brighton, May: Once again, Hiroko gathered a talented group of artists to display alongside her work at house One-Six-Nine in the Fiveways Trail. This year saw over 1,800 visitors.

DMH Stallard, London "Echo III" and others displayed until Feb 2019.

Artists Open House 2018 in Brighton, May: She opened her house for the first time as part of the Fiveways trail and welcomed over 1,600 guests.

Art in Brighton Magazine 2018: She features in this artist’s directory with her own full page.

Gallery news! Hiroko now has paintings on display and for sale at the Forest Gallery in Petworth. These include pictures from the Forest Dawn and Dusk series, among others. Visit the gallery's page via this link.

Linn Painter-Stainers Exhibition 2018: Nordic Light I (above) shortlisted.

Art Bright in July 2017: Eight-artist show at Brighton's Jubilee Library from 3–16 July 

Cripps LLP commission: Resonance is now on display in the foyer of the new Cripps lawyer's building in Tunbridge Wells.

ING Discerning Eye exhibition 2016: Three pictures selected and shown at the Mall Galleries in London from 17–26 November.

Big Heart Auction: One work donated and sold at an online auction hosted by eBay in July 2016, in support of Chestnut Tree House Charity (Hospice)