Penny Warden

Penny Warden began to paint at a very early age and indeed was highly commended for her work by the Royal Drawing Society when only 12 years old. While also holding a degree in Theology from Oxford University, Penny studied Fine Art to bachelor level prior to becoming a full time professional artist in 2001.

Penny paints her images with a maximum of spontaneity and energetic expression. This is a very experimental approach and Penny works in partnership with the oil paint to forge a new vibrant image out of a familiar well-known form. The sense of movement and vibrancy, which is Penny’s trademark, is especially evident in her figurative oil paintings. She also paints and draws with the same lively expression horses, still life, musical instruments and flowers.

Penny is recognised for her 6ft figurative oil paintings “The Phoenix Series”, which have been seen by many thousands of people whilst on a five year solo tour of ten English cathedrals. In 2004 as a ‘rising artist’, Penny was chosen to exhibit her work in St Paul’s Cathedral alongside Tracy Emin and other prominent artists, in an innovative and exciting national exhibition.

In 2005 Penny was commissioned by Blackburn Cathedral for ”a major project of national significance” consisting of the permanent display of fifteen 6ft figurative paintings based on the Stations of the Cross. With accolades from Desmond Tutu “wonderfully creative” and visited by Condoleezza Rice, USA Secretary of State this is “the most significant contemporary artistic commission in any church in the land. This extraordinary exhibition will be seen by generations to come.”