Rachael Johnson is a Bristol-based artist working primarily with acrylic paint and handmade collage. Her practice moves between portraiture and abstract depictions of boats, exploring memory, identity, and the passage of time through layered surfaces and expressive mark-making.

Her portraits blend realism with abstraction, with figures emerging from rich, moody backgrounds. Using bold brushstrokes, drips, and textured layers, Rachael captures quiet yet powerful expressions that reflect inner thought and emotional complexity. Abstract forms often surround her subjects, suggesting memory, experience, and personal growth.

Alongside her figurative work, Rachael creates abstract boat paintings inspired by childhood memories of growing up in Cornwall by the river Fowey. Time spent in her father’s boat workshop—sanding, painting, and restoring wooden boats—deeply informs her approach. The process of repairing worn surfaces and revealing layers beneath continues to influence both her materials and themes.

Her boat paintings incorporate collage to build textured surfaces that echo the weathered appearance of working boats. She is drawn to the tension between fresh paint and faded, worn areas, often punctuated by bright colours inspired by buoys and harbour life. Across both bodies of work, Rachael explores contrasts of strength and vulnerability, repair and decay, stillness and movement.

Her process is intuitive, allowing the paint to guide her while embracing both control and spontaneity. Through her work, Rachael aims to create a sense of connection, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and find their own meaning within each piece.

rachaeljohnsonart.com

This is a free exhibition on display in the cafe bar