I want to capture grandeur and decadence and a little bit of impossibility.

My work is conceptual and achieved by a process of layers. Beginning within ancient alleyways and neglected buildings I use my camera to capture patinas of texture, decay and structural elements in order to construct a background. This allows me to develop a storyline for the artwork, creating a sense of nostalgia that forms the base for my studio work.

My studio time is about abundance. I use chunks of flowers like a paintbrush- making sweeping gestures or wilting flows. 

Connecting the past with the present in a tapestry of richness reminiscent of the dutch masters, each piece is a window to the layered beauty of our world.

At times my work has a touch of surrealism and often a theatrical edge as I strive to capture a feeling of decadent abandonment.

“Paula Petherick crafts masterpieces using fine art photography. Her incredibly detailed pieces are enriched with textures and layers reminiscent of the Dutch Masters style”   -BRITISH VOGUE-

Inspired by the Masters and trained by the Military

Drawing upon a history of technical work including a career as a military photographer, I juxtapose the layers of decaying urban background with the floral excess of the studio seeking to invoke a feeling of strength and sensuality often filled with a high sense of baroque drama.  The finished works merge complex layers of imagery, adding depth and detail as they integrate multiple viewpoints and lighting elements.

When I was twenty three I backpacked solo into the world and discovered an abundance of beauty. 

Now I want to bring that world into our homes. Because we live in a world of beauty, and that beauty is robust and resilient and exists everywhere, from the moss on the footpath to the grandeur of Rome.