Diana Hayward is a Scottish artist based in Cambridge. Early in her career, Diana was initially inspired to paint by the Scottish colourists, in particular, Samuel John Peploe and Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell as well as Norman Edgar and George Devlin. She was greatly influenced by the way their use of colour and fluid painting styles manage to fill a room with light.

Diana’s work varies from impressionistic to semi-abstract, leaving enough room for the viewer to make their own interpretations. She paints as an emotional response to memories and images of time spent at her favourite coastal spots. For Diana beaches are forever changing. It is the same place but the wind and the tide have sculpted it over time. They are constantly evolving places, each with their own personalities. The sea has impact and whether its waves are gently lapping the shore or rolling in and spraying, Diana finds this both energising and calming. This energy is clearly reflected in her work, with the loose and free application of heavy impasto acrylics as well as the use of both brushes and painting knives. This process of capturing the movement of water is one which Diana finds a joyful challenge.

‘Painting gives me a lot of pleasure. Unplanned, the image emerges. It seems to almost paint itself. Paintings are so much more than simple images. They are responses to emotions, memories, places and meetings. They have soul, should resonate and most importantly bring joy.’

Diana has been exhibiting her work since 2002, quickly gaining success at the Park Gallery in Glasgow, becoming their top-selling artist. Since then her work has been shown in Cambridge, Edinburgh, London and Glasgow including at the Paisley Art Institute. Her work also features in private collections in Europe and Asia.