Oil painting of a blonde, nude female figure as the biblical Eve, holding an apple in one hand with blood on the other and on her thigh, sat on a rippling red sheet with a solid gold background.

Rose Willis’ practice is concerned with deifying human experiences, exploring relationships to others, the self and the external natural world. She is inspired by early Christian and pagan symbolism and imagery which informs her focus on the spiritual. Her works are connected by her interest in belief systems, but also areas of daily life.

Her aim is to create a sense of communal experience through exploring events and feelings which most people can relate to, while elevating these experiences. Within individual projects, her work has covered objectification, relationship dynamics, intimacy, grief and a connection to natural cycles.

Oil Painting of two nude figures entwined on a bed from above.

Willis draws on historical and contemporary works to develop her style. Although oil painting is her focus, she also utilises other media such as sculpture, using natural materials like willow and reclaimed clay. She is interested in challenging her techniques as she believes the craft of making is an extremely important facet of artistic expression.

Oil painting of a deer curled into a resting pose in a grave from above surrounded by flowers and plants, encircled by gold with a gold halo around its head.
Simple line painting of a female nude figure posed with her back to us, leaning up on her elbows with her bum up and legs feet visible sticking up from behind.
Oil painting of a female figure holding an ornate branch of flowers crouched in grass in front of a willow tree and extended scene in a central panel, with two accompanying panels showing mirrored sea scapes.