Part of the New Light Prize Exhibition 2020

Maria was born in Hartlepool in 1967 and grew up on the North East coast of England. Born under the sign of Aquarius, Maria is a thalassophile and has always been interested in the coastal landscape and the sea. Following a degree in law, Maria qualified as a barrister and spent over 20 years as a shipping lawyer working in the maritime industry. Maria first began painting during a career break when her son was small and discovered the thrill of the creative process. She continued to paint when time permitted but in 2016, she decided to sacrifice the rewards of legal practice to pursue this new creative path.

Maria paints freely in oils and watercolour and is drawn to a wide range of subjects. Once enthused by a scene or an object, she paints to capture its essence fearlessly and with great energy. Her painting of Druridge Bay was painted following Maria’s final trip to the coast before lockdown and follows on from a series created following a road trip from the Farne Islands down to Dungeness. A keen outdoor swimmer, Maria is currently painting a series depicting the lidos she has swum in on various “outdoor swimming pool tours”.