Fiona's paintings are mostly based on the landscape local to her in Surrey. Familiar surroundings of large areas of sand heath, woodland, and ponds which she has been immersed in provide a driving force for her paintings, but they are rarely directly representational. Fiona is intrigued by how landscapes are shaped, by ourselves and our ancestors, leaving traces, marks, and echoes. Working on several pieces at the same time allows Fiona to explore ideas in a series of paintings. Her canvasses are often painted and repainted so that traces of the original images remain present, creating layers of marks, colour, and interwoven history.

Fiona Millais portrait
Fiona Millais image

"I take inspiration from the places and objects that I love. I walk out every day, with the dog and often gather additional materials, so that stones, leaves, and feathers become visual reminders of my experience."

Fiona studied at the University of Newcastle and graduated with a degree in Fine Art in 1984 and has worked as an artist since. Her work can be found in private and public collections including the P&O Liner 'Arcadia' which commissioned her to produce 8 large works. Fiona is the great-granddaughter of the pre-Raphaelite painter Sir John Everett Millais.

Selected Exhibitions

Bircham Gallery, Norfolk

The Jerram Gallery, Sherborne

New Ashgate Gallery

Ainscough Gallery, London and Dartmouth

Cornwall Contemporary Gallery

Beside the Wave Gallery, Cornwall

Thompson Gallery

Yew Tree Gallery