Alison P. O’Reilly, RCA 2019

Biography

Alison P. O'Reilly (b. 1982, Ottawa, ON, Canada) is a visual artist and painter based in East London. Her work has been featured in various solo and group exhibitions across the UK, including the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) 171st Annual Open Exhibition and the 2024 Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI) Annual Open.

Alison's paintings are in both private and corporate collections within the UK and Canada, including a commercial commission for a client at the Shard London Bridge. She holds an MA and MSc from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London, where she researched universal aesthetics and was a joint recipient of the Grantham Institute and the RCA Grantham Art Prize in 2018.

She is a dedicated member of the Bow Arts community, where she has her studio, and was recently selected for the 2025/26 Turps Off Site Programme. She also runs a programme of art workshops for Waythrough, a UK charity supporting people in recovery. In addition to her studio practice, Alison is available for commercial commissions.

For regular updates, follow her on Instagram: @alisonporeilly

Artist Statement

At the heart of my work lies a fascination with how colour and composition—alongside hidden strategies—can create a powerful visual impact. I combine a disciplined approach grounded in traditional methods with an intuitive, spontaneous energy, allowing tension between control and play to emerge in the layered surfaces.

I primarily work in oil, acrylic, enamel, and collage, often on collaged or distressed surfaces. Each piece begins with a clear compositional plan and a personal narrative. Through layering and revision, the work develops a weathered, architectural quality—a reflection on memory, material, and time.

My background in interior design and architectural drafting continues to inform my practice. Early abstract paintings reference the textures of old buildings, floor plans, and colour studies, with subtle traces of technical tools like pencils and lettering guides introducing structure amid the layers.

More recent still lifes incorporate found objects sourced online and from charity shops, engaging with the visual language of domestic interiors rooted in my own upbringing. Despite the shift in subject matter, a consistent focus on space, structure, and colour links the work, creating an ongoing dialogue across time.