Artists statement:
With a passion for pastels and a love of narrative whether painting a portrait or still life Michele’s attention to detail and meticulous mark making help to make the ordinary extraordinary. With her design
background she understands the importance of strong composition, lighting and crop within her work.
Her work has earned many accolades since becoming a full-time artist in 2016 exhibiting at such venues as The National Arts Club, New York, The Butler Institute of American Art, Ohio, The Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, Illinois as well as with several Art Societies at The Mall Galleries, London. Her work have been featured in international publications including the Pastel Journal, Pratique Des Arts, Artists and illustrators Magazine, The Artist Magazine and Portraits for NHS Heroes.
Michele enjoys working from life as well as from her own photo references, she tries to draw everyday and attends regular portrait and life drawing classes. She works from her studio in Suffolk.
Biography:
Having graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in Graphic Design Michele forged a successful career leading to running her own business in the same subject for many years. In her relatively short career as an artist she has had many successes by way of prizes, competitions, exhibitions and publications.
Society Membership:
Michele is a member of the Pastel Society, Master Pastellist and Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America, a Master Circle Member of IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies), a Council Member of the Society of Women Artists, an Associate Member of the Society of Graphic Fine Artists, a Member of the Institute of East Anglian Artists and a Unison Colour Pastels Associate Artist.
Awards:
2022 Award of Excellence 50th Annual, Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America, NYC
2022 1st Prize Richeson75 International Landscape, Seascape & Architecture
2021 Dec FASO Boldbrush - Outstanding Pastel
2021 Winner of The People's Choice Award TALP (The Artist Leisure Painter) Open Exhibition, Northampton
2021 The Degas Pastel Society 22nd Membership Exhibition Honourable mention
2021 Pastel Artists of Oregon Award PAO MOX Exhibition
2021 The Pastel Societies of The South East Award 48th Annual, Enduring Brilliance, PSA
2021 Richeson75 International Landscape, Seascape & Architecture Competition, Honourable Mention
2021 Caran D'Ache Award TALP Open Competition
2021 2nd Prize IAPS (International Association of Pastel Artists) 38th juried Exhibition Chicago
2020 2nd Prize Pastel Society of South East Texas Art of the Pastel Exhibition
2020 Lila Gold Memorial Award 48th Annual, Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America, NYC
2020 Award of Merit Pastel Society of Maine’s 20th International Exhibition
2020 Plein Air Magazine Award Pastel Society of the West Coast Exhibition
2020 Honourable mention, Central Mass Pastel Society Marks of Distinction Exhibition
2020 3rd prize Pastel Painters of Cape Cod National Exhibition
2020 Daler Rowney Award TALP Open Competition
2020 Highly Commended TALP Open Competition
2019 Nov FASO Boldbrush - Outstanding Pastel
2018 Chartpak Inc. Mussini Award Enduring Brilliance PSA, NYC
2018 June FASO Boldbrush - Outstanding Pastel
2017 Institute of East Anglia Artists (Best in Show)
Exhibitions:
2023 IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) 42nd juried Exhibition Webshow
2023 Butler Museum of American Art, Ohio
2023 Richeson75 International Small Works Competition
2022 Winter Exhibition, Russell Gallery, London
2022 50th Annual, Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America, NYC
2022 Richeson75 International Landscape, Seascape & Architecture
2022 50th Annual, Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America, NYC
2022 IAPS (International Association of Pastel Artists) 8th Master Circle Division Juried Exhibition
2022 Institute of East Anglian Artists Hidden Gems, The Hostry, Norwich, Norfolk
2021 IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) 39th juried Exhibition Webshow
2021 The Artists Collection TALP Winners Exhibition, Northampton
2021 49th Annual, Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America, NYC
2021 Richeson75 Figure/Portrait Competition and Exhibition
2021 Richeson75 International Landscape, Seascape & Architecture Competition
2021 49th Annual, Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America, NYC
2021 TALP Open Exhibition, Northampton
2021 IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) 38th juried Exhibition, Chicago
2021 Institute of East Anglian Artists Open Exhibition, Norfolk
2021 National Association Women Artists Exhibition Special Women/HERstory
2020 Pastel Society of Eastern Canada Exhibition
2020 Pastel Society of South East Texas Art of the Pastel Exhibition
2020 Pastel Artists of Oregon Spirit of Pastels International Open Exhibition
2020 IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) 37th juried Exhibition Webshow
2020 South West Florida Pastel Society Valued Strokes Exhibition
2020 The Richeson75 International Landscape, Seascape & Architecture Exhibition
2020 Pastel Society of Maine’s 20th International Exhibition
2020 Pastel Society of the West Coast Exhibition
2020 Central Mass Pastel Society Marks of Distinction Exhibition
2020 Pastel Painters of Cape Cod National exhibition
2020 6th Annual Adirondack National Pastel Exhibition
2020 The Artist and Leisure Painter Open Competition Exhibition
2020 Pastel Painters of Cape Cod National Exhibition
2020 48th Annual, Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America, NYC
2020 Drawing from the Heart Exhibition, Norfolk
2020 Central Massachusetts Pastel Society Marks of Distinction Exhibition
2020 NHS Healthcare Heroes Exhibition
2019 Pastel Society of North Carolina Pure Colour Exhibition
2019 Holly Bush Emerging Women Painter Prize Exhibition, London
2019 47th Annual, Enduring Brilliance, Pastel Society of America, NYC
2019 Butler Museum of American Art, Ohio
2019 Institute of East Anglian Artists Open Exhibition, Norfolk
2018 IAPS (International Association of Pastel Artists) 33rd Juried Exhibition
2018 Pastel Society of North Carolina Pure Colour
2018 Institute of East Anglian Artists Open Exhibition, Norfolk
2018 Winter Exhibition, Russell Gallery, London
2018 46th Annual Enduring Brilliance Pastel Society of America Exhibition, NYC
2018 Butler Museum of American Art, Ohio
2018 Holly Bush Emerging Women Painter Prize Exhibition, London
2018 Wells Maltings Trust Connections Exhibition, Norfolk
2018 TALP Open Competition Exhibition, Northampton
2018 Summer Exhibition, Russell Gallery, London
2017 Institute of East Anglian Artists Open Exhibition, Norfolk
Mall Galleries Exhibitions:
2023 162nd Society of Women Artists
2023 The Pastel Society
2023 The Society of Graphic Fine Arts
2022 Royal Society of Marine Artists
2022 161st Society of Women Artists
2022 Society of Graphic Fine Arts
2022 The Pastel Society
2021 160th Society of Women Artists
2021 The Pastel Society
2021 Society of Graphic Fine Arts
2021 Royal Society of Portrait Painters (Preselected)
2021 The Pastel Society
2020 159th Society of Women Artists
2020 The Society of Graphic Fine Arts
2019 The Pastel Society
2019 158th Society of Women Artists
2018 157th Society of Women Artists
2018 Royal Society of Marine Artists
2018 The Pastel Society (Preselected)
2017 The Pastel Society
2017 156th Society of Women Artists
2017 Royal Society of Marine Artists
2017 Royal Society of British Artists (Preselected)
EMAIL: michele.ashby@gmail.com
WEBSITE: https://www.micheleashby.co.uk/
