Paintings that celebrate the wisdom of the natural world, created from my studio in Stokes Croft, at the heart of Bristol.
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about me
I am an artist working with mixed media paintings and ceramics to celebrate the wisdom of the natural world. Coming from a background of creating something from nothing, my materials are predominantly scavenged, reclaimed and foraged. Creating my paint from natural pigments like foraged rocks and soil brings me closer to the Earth. I see my practice as a direct collaboration with nature, which is an ever evolving relationship.
Having always found the act of making a cathartic process, my paintings serve as mirrors for me to process and understand the world and my experiences.
I aim to create a sense of playful inquiry through them, celebrating the bittersweetness and beauty of life.
My paintings feature characters and symbols which help me transmute my experiences and embody the magical realism of everyday moments. I try to evolve each narrative to arrive at a sense of affirmation. I see my paintings as talismans which bring an energy with them. Art is communication. It has an intangible emotional quality. Each of my works aims to celebrate the strange and beautiful nuances of being human on this amazing planet. They invite people to reflect on their own experiences. I love seeing them go and live out in the world, as they take on new meanings for everyone who engages with them. Art is for everyone, and this sharing is incredibly important to me. This is reflected in the interactive elements of my exhibitions and curated shows.
Biography
Amber Bardell (they/she) is an emerging artist based in Bristol, UK. Having grown up in rural Surrey, they have an intrinsic connection with the natural world. Working predominantly with mixed-media painting, Amber also works with murals, ceramics, printmaking, animation, and other mediums. Their work is consistently inspired by the sense of catharsis and spirituality that is intertwined with creativity.
Bardell studied Contemporary Media Practice at the University of Westminster in London. During her studies, Bardell was also voluntary Director of !GWAK, an international creative collective. The collective’s aims were making the art world more accessible for emerging artists, and facilitating collaboration, fostering a passion for access in the arts. They graduated in 2021, and despite moving away from media based work, Bardell developed a process-driven way of working and a wealth of experience from side projects during their studies. This ethos of bringing together accessible, multidisciplinary art has greatly informed their Curating work, having curated Space to Dream for Rising Arts Agency (2025), subversive grassroots exhibition Works in Progress (2023), and two self-curated solo shows: Art is Nourishment (2022), and Making Home (2024).
Currently, Bardell is working with natural pigments to create their own paint and deepen their connection with nature through their painting process. Bardell is distilling her visual language and committing to painting as her main media of choice.
Amber is also a creative with Rising Arts Agency, an alternative arts agency
based in Bristol.
Rising champions young, multidisciplinary creatives and empowers them to work on projects that celebrate new perspectives and lived experiences. Their ethos values access, equity, and genuine co-creation.
FAQs
I want to commission a mural, what shall I include when I reach out?
It would be really helpful if you can let me know an indication of your budget, share some photos, and the dimensions of your wall/floor/window area that you would like painted, and whether it is indoor or outdoors. If you have specific ideas about the design, i.e. using brand colours, or incorporating existing elements please let me know. I can paint pre-existing designs, create a bespoke design, or my absolute favourite is when you let me freestyle - so no problem if you don't have a idea yet! I would love to discuss your idea, so please drop those details in the form below.
I want to commission a painting, what info should I provide?
I'm excited to hear from you, please share any details you have about budget, scale, where the piece will go, and referencing my previous works can be really helpful too.
Do you collaborate with brands?
If I feel our ethos and shared goals align, I love working on projects with other creatives and brands. You can check out my work with Tapuh Clothing and Rebel Patch for inspiration.
Can you curate my exhibition?
I love curating, please make sure you've checked out my curating page for previous projects and a bit about my approach. Each curating project is so unique and detailed so please provide me with a clear brief or we can book in a call if things are early days.
I'd like to commission a Workshop, what shall I include in my enquiry?
Please let me know a bit of context for the workshop, especially about the event space if you have one, and how many attendees we are expecting. I can design something bespoke to suit you including art, meditation, sound baths, and more. It would also be helpful to know if you have budget to commission me for the whole workshop, or consider the pricing structure for ticket sales.
I'm not quite sure what I want, but I'm interested in working with you, how should I get in touch?
I love working on commissions that aren't too prescriptive, so you're welcome to hire me to 'do my thing' in the right context. I can free paint murals or live paintings for events, or create you something intuitive for your space. If it suits you, we can arrange a call to discuss options, just send a request on my contact form below.