Hello
Keith Hillsden is an artist who mainly works with pastels and mixed media. To Keith, art is entertainment: to be able to touch the work, as well as to interact with the work is important. His works are based on inspiring situations: visions that reflect serene contemplation, combined with subtle details of odd or eccentric elements. His mixed media artworks establish a link between the paintings reality and that imagined by its conceiver. With influences as diverse as Monet, Turner and Hersey, his variations are crafted from both traditional and modern structures.
My Story
Having excelled at art in school I then went on to attend college and gained a diploma in Art and Design. Art has always been my passion but was put on the back burner whilst my family were growing up. My occupation as a web designer allowed me to hone my skills with regards to design, composition and layout. My life took a deviation and I became a college tutor teaching IT and Business. Elements of the subject matter involved graphic representations and modular design. Alongside these occupations I also had a deep love of the great outdoors. Most of my inspiration comes from memories of places visited. Then in 2019 my world came tumbling down. I suffered cauda equina and subsequently had several operations on my spine and became incapacitated. This has left me disabled and unable to pursue my previous pastimes of hiking, cycling and running marathons. Nevertheless, with the love and support of my family and, my continued passion for art I have emerged from what was a very black hole. My mindset has come 360 degrees and I now immerse myself in producing art of which I sincerely hope you like as much as I love creating.
“Some of the world’s most exquisite works of art are done in pastel. I prefer to keep the composition as simple as I can and at times leave some areas of the paper untouched. Make the pastel “look” like a pastel by using it in a way that shows off its unique properties.” Keith Hillsden