GALLERY

ALIISA HYSLOP

Aliisa Hyslop was born in 1957. She carried her portfolio around primary school, knowing from a young age that she wanted to be an artist. In 1981 she obtained a fine arts degree from Portsmouth. Since then Aliisa has lived and worked in Edinburgh. Her work developed while she was working part time, now with one or two main exhibitions per year plus group shows she makes a living from painting.

Exhibitions of Aliisa's work have been held in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Cambridge and Bath as well as further afield in Idaho, USA.

Aliisa works mainly from home, although the studio is there for larger paintings, saying she prefers "the familiarity and intimacy of a kitchen table". She paints intuitively, first composing the picture in a sketchbook and then transferring it onto primed board, using acrylics and a glossy varnish for the final image. Her style and figures are now instantly recognised and loved. She says that "people often ask why my figures are so big (some people call them fat, but I think of them as big). I'm not really sure myself, these images are about the soul which is immense and boundless."

Aliisa's work could be described as whimsical and gentle studies in human nature. The figures she creates inhabit a world where they get to do all the good things in life, they skate, drink wine and dance. Aliisa's paintings rarely fail to amuse and delight.