About Susan
Art that Invites the magic...
I’m Susan Gardner, a contemporary British painter with art in collections around the world. I paint the souls and spirits of animals. They help you find the magic you seek beneath the concrete of our everyday lives.
Colour is where everything begins. I use bold, vibrant palettes, fluid movement and scale to create paintings that are felt deeply. I am not interested in literal representation. I paint by instinct, seeking to represent our emotional response to wildlife. Loose, calligraphic lines suggest movement and freedom. Layered paint and texture give impact and presence. Larger works encourage a physical response, bringing warmth, soul and a sense of peace.
At the heart of my work is a simple belief. Empathy for animals is ordinary. It does not require specialist knowledge or a particular way of thinking. It is something most of us recognise instinctively when we slow down and look.
When we recognise the inner lives of other animals, something is bound to change. We become more curious, more understanding and more compassionate in our choices.
To live with my work is to be wowed each day by the significance and beauty of the lives we share this planet with.