Guy Kinnersley

You describe your practice through three values: “Imagine, Create, Inspire”. How do these ideas guide your process from the first concept to the finished artwork?

Everyday, something intrigues me; could be a flower, animal, or a colour, & each time I immediately imagine how it would look as a piece of Art. Then, I’ll design a concept sketch to determine composition & size of the work.

When I structure a painting, it’s all through intuition, with my use of colour, brush work & mark making to create the finished piece.

Afterwards, I will compare the rough concept sketch to the finished work, which often inspires me, as I see the idea that came to life via pencil, then through paint.

But, ultimately when I see feedback from my collectors that say how they connect deeply with the work, & how a piece inspires & uplifts them each day, it truly means a lot, & continues to inspire me even more!

Guy Kinnersley | Fight Through | 2022

Your works are bold, colourful, and full of movement. What role does colour play in expressing emotion and energy in your paintings?

Colour, to me is everything, I love the vibrancy of the brights, the delicacy of darks & when paired together correctly, create a beautiful contrast.

From an emotional perspective, colour is an expression, you can look at a colour & feel the energy within each stroke – joyful or sadness.

I embrace colour, it makes you reflect, gives you perspective, clarity & transforms the energy. When you view a painting of mine, the colour captivates you & provokes the reaction.

You often work between realism and abstraction. How do you decide how much of the subject should remain recognizable and how much can become expressive or abstract?

Many pieces of mine, I’ll centre the subject as intended, using colourful strokes to depict the focus of the work, whilst combining a playful background, with loose splashes of colour. The idea being that you are drawn to the subject, but can get lost in the background.

It often changes where the background will be a solid tone & the subject will be recognizable, yet expressionistic.

The style in which I paint is fascinating & as I say, it’s all intuitive; Art is freeing, so I like to play around with colour, composition & create something remarkable.

Guy Kinnersley | Doubt | 2026

Wildlife appears strongly in your work, especially in pieces such as Cold Blood Colour and Dive. What draws you to animals as artistic subjects?

Wildlife fascinates me, their presence, movement & traits are inspiring. And I look to transcend their qualities & characteristics into a piece of artwork.

Cold Blood Colour is the largest piece I’ve created (60×40 inch) & I wanted to depict the Crocodile with its viscousness yet vulnerabilities. The colour & realism of the Crocodile on top of a plain, flat background, gives you the presence & energy, but also a sense of calm.

Dive is a piece that’s more meticulous, yet chaotic, the idea of how Dolphins are known to be clever, but also playful, is how I wanted this work to be interpreted. With bold colours flowing through, alongside a powerful background of splashes.

Animals are extremely intelligent, quirky & deliberate in the way they live, that’s what I look to capture within my Wildlife work.

Your animal paintings feel both powerful and playful. Do you see them as portraits of the creatures themselves, or as reflections of human emotions?

I want the viewer to be mesmerised by the work, to feel something that brings an emotional response.

My Artwork is bold, expressive & intriguing.

I look to capture the animal in their natural form, with colours playing a vital part to create a depth within the painting; On the surface, they can seem playful, but if you spend time observing a piece, you will find yourself reflecting in the work, which is what provides that powerful, atmospheric feeling.

Guy Kinnersley | Dive | 2025

You have been creative since childhood. Can you remember a moment when you understood that art would become an important part of your life?

Creativity is an outlet like no other, & when you realise that an idea can become reality through colour, paintbrush & canvas, still fascinates me to this day!

I knew early on that Art would become a key component to my life, I’ve always been inspired to create, & that passion has never gone away.

Its an escape from the “real world” & gives me the freedom to express, convey my ideas, which motivates & inspires me.

Guy Kinnersley | Cold Blood Colour | 2025

What do you hope viewers feel when they encounter your paintings in person?

I want a reaction, (positive or negative) Art is subjective, created to be polarising; One person could dislike a piece, whereas 100 could love it & vice versa. That’s what makes it brilliant!

Currently, I am creating a seven piece expressive portrait collection, & I’m looking for the viewer to observe each piece individually, looking at colour, facial expression, composition & to see themselves within each painting. Then when they hear the title of the work, hopefully it resonates with them in a way that they felt towards the portrait.

I want the viewer to connect, have an emotional response to my work, get lost within a piece, & inspire them!