The Story of Contemporary Artist
Rebecca Grant de Longueuil
Rebecca Grant de Longueuil is UK’s leading contemporary painter in pre-1950s luxury yachts. She is also a national award winning artist who’s work was selected by the King Charles III for the Prince’s Trust. She trained under her grandfather, the late 12th Baron Raymond Grant de Longueuil, who spent his whole life in Navarrenx, South of France painting lifestyle scenes and developed his own technique with Oil and Petrol.. Rebecca is also fourth cousins with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Although a familiar face as a TV actress Rebecca has painted longer than she has acted selling her works on the streets of Nottingham aged 16 with fellow artist and local treasure of Nottingham Pete Spowage. Already aged 17 she was selected by HRH Prince of Wales winning the Young Artists Award as part of The Prince's Trust. Her painting was exhibited at Hampton Court Palace and then was gifted to the Nottingham University Hospital where doctors and nurses had previously saved her life from a severe asthma attack a year before.
She soon went on to win Britain in Bloom awarded by Princess Alexandra. Several years on she has has now sold her work worldwide to collectors in Paris, USA, London, Norfolk and Dubai. Other exhibitions over the years include Riverside Gallery in Richmond, Oil and Water in Wandsworth, private showings at The Philippine London Embassy hosted by His Excellency, Fitzroy House and of course numerous theatres from The Garrick (where she painted all the cast from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest including Christian Slater) and the Lyric Theatre where she auctioned a painting of fellow friend Robert Powell.
AS FEATURED IN
About
Although a familiar face as a TV actress Rebecca has painted longer than she has acted selling her works on the streets of Nottingham aged 16 with fellow artist and local treasure of Nottingham Pete Spowage. Already aged 17 she was selected by HRH Prince of Wales winning the Young Artists Award as part of The Prince's Trust.
Her beautiful painting was exhibited at Hampton Court Palace and then was gifted to the Nottingham University Hospital where doctors and nurses had previously saved her life from a severe asthma attack a year before.
She soon went on to win Britain in Bloom awarded by Princess Alexandra. Several years on she has now sold her work worldwide to collectors in Paris, USA, London, Norfolk and Dubai.
Other exhibitions over the years include Riverside Gallery in Richmond, Oil and Water in Wandsworth, private showings at The Philippine London Embassy hosted by His Excellency, Fitzroy House and of course numerous theatres from The Garrick (where she painted all the cast from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest including Christian Slater) and the Lyric Theatre where she auctioned a painting of fellow friend Robert Powell.
Throughout lockdown she started two collections - The Yellow Brick Road Collection which is in progress, and The Set Sail Collection which is Jubilee wall art I created to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Rebecca came across old pictures of the yachts belonging to the Kings and Queens from the 1900s.
Inspired by this she started the celebratory collection with a burst of colour and gold leaf for the Jubilee. She is expanding this collection using crushed Mother of Pearl all in time for the Launch on the 16th September at The Octagon Barn Jubilee Dinner.
Her style is bold and at times illustrative taking influence from her grandfather's block and structured brushstrokes giving way to moments of freedom, space and theatrical drama.
Artist statement
My paintings aim to celebrate beauty, colour, vibrancy and truth eliciting a sense of upliftment, stability, freedom and empowerment for myself and the viewer. I find painting is like a process, a journey of self discovery unravelling the different layers of my mind as I lay them down thick or thin with paint on the canvas.
My journey contains a gamut of emotions creating and constructing what Mankind is trying to do against the powerful landscape of Mother Nature. I like to paint images of how Man survives as him/herself, in groups, with nature and spiritually and in its most ideal form. But in the same breath I just adore playing with drama, theatre and giving my work a big dose of magic. My work marries these ideal and magical elements together, and then humanises them by utilising earthy colours with a cubist constructive technique inspired by my grandfather's work.
This is where the connection between my painting and the viewer is made, for man to understand mankind in a better light, and to experience for a moment what is possible…
Past
I have always had a spiritual outlook on life and as a close relative once said ‘I was always LOOKING OUTWARDS from an early age. Having a near-death experience in hospital aged 16 questioned my beliefs in what we might be and what exactly is ‘the spirit’ and it is no surprise that post coma I went through a stage of painting numerous angels and having a spiritual outlook that we might not meat bodies alone. Again I aim to convey this sense of the possibility and discovery of ‘there being more in my work.
My first purpose in life from a very early age was to be an animator. I soon found out that I was able to make others happy and uplifted through dance, song, and acting. I continued to pursue a lifelong career in acting and was fortunate enough to star in many West End shows such as the vibrant musical Bombay Dreams and numerous tv dramas such as BBC’s Holby City and Marvel’s Lucky Man.
This ‘other’ career, if anything, reinforced my passion for painting as there is much theatre, playfulness, and drama in my work. One should almost hear the captain hollering at the crew in my original Set Sail Collection ‘All hands on deck!’ and other such maritime phrases.
Current work & technique
In my Set Sail Collection I create a background of abstract concepts and tones by using very bold brushstrokes, gold leaf and acrylic pouring paint. Upon this comes the impressionism, illustration and cubism all utilised to construct the yacht, the people and the general drama between the crew. The result is beautiful and colourful ocean art.
Again bringing the Majestical and Mankind themes together. Some of these authentic paintings also contain real gold and silver leaf, crushed Mother of Pearl and original Lapis Lazuli.
My Yellow Brick Road Collection is a growing collection of work beginning aged 16 with ‘21st Century Britain’ which was selected for The Young Artists Award. The Yellow Brick Road tells us of the sometimes stuck journey we are whipped into this lifetime, the range of accepted influences, the life we are at times sold and the possibility of ‘stepping off’. ‘Time is Ticking’ is a reflection of the past 2 years. The full collection will be 10 pieces in total.
Featured art collections
SET SAIL COLLECTION
THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD COLLECTION
Events and exhibitions
Upcoming
Mid August 2022 // Private Press Viewing of The Set Sail Collection
TBC
16th Sept 2022 // A Jubilee Celebration
Launch and Auction of The Set Sail Collection and gala dinner at The Octagon Barn, Norfolk.
A percentage of the auction will be donated to Nelson’s Journey. Aiding bereaved children who have lost a close relative. https://nelsonsjourney.org.uk
Past
Riverside Gallery in Richmond
Oil and Water in Wandsworth
Private showings at The Philippine London Embassy hosted by His Excellency the Ambassador for the Philippines
Fitzroy House and numerous theatres from The Garrick (where she painted all the cast from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest including Christian Slater)
Lyric Theatre where she auctioned a painting of fellow actor and friend Robert Powell.
A percentage of Rebecca’s paintings was donated to The Padua Charitable Fund http://www.paduacharity.com
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