Acrylic and Pastel on Canvas
28 x 28 inches
Mandy Racine
Biography
Mandy Racine was born in Scotland but grew up mainly in the south of England. In 2000, Mandy moved to Mallorca, Spain where she worked as a specialist painter in interior design before realizing her true dream was to paint as a full-time artist. Racine is inspired by the old masters, particularly the composition, colors & fabrics of the Rococo and Baroque periods. Drawing from such masters as Peter Paul Rubens, François Boucher, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, and Thomas Gainsborough, Racine interprets well-known classic paintings by theses artists by adding abstract elements to the composition. In this manner, Racine’s paintings create a bridge from the classical to the contemporary. Racine does not exclusively take inspiration from old masters but she is also inspired by the contemporary artworks of Joan Mitchell, Willem de Kooning, Cecily Brown and so on. Looking at a rendering of Gainsborough’s famous Blue Boy (ca. 1770), for example, is interpreted by Racine with highly expressive brushwork that breathes new life into a familiar image from art history. She is constantly experimenting with textures & layered paint to convey dynamic flow & movement. Racine mainly works with acrylic paint, charcoal, & pastels. Painting in a very expressive way, abstract elements are explored in her figurative subjects, landscapes and the spaces in between.
Mandy undertook a Foundation Course in Art, passing with Merit, and went on to achieve a degree in Fine Art at West Surrey College of Art & Design, UK. Racine’s work has been exhibited extensively throughout the UK, Spain, France & the United States and her paintings are collected privately around the globe. Recently her work has been widely publicized across various media including the New York Times due to her portraits being featured in luxury suites at Fouquet’s New York Hotel. Mandy is proud to undertake collaborations with charities such as 4bySix painting a panel from a London bus to raise funds for homelessness.. For a number of years she carried out book illustration projects with several published.
“Painting takes me to another place, my own special world inspired by the old masters & Baroque and Rococo imagery. I’m inspired by the composition, colour & flow of the works and love to put my own contemporary twist on it, painting in a very gestural, energetic way.”
CV
Education:
1985-1988
BA (Hons) Degree Fine Art, West Surrey College of Art & Design, Farnham, UK
1984-1985
Foundation Course in Art & Design, East Surrey College of Art, Reigate, UK. Passed with Merit
Exhibitions:
2025
Various works on show at Laura Rathe Fine Art, Texas, Joanne Artman Gallery, Laguna Beach, California & L & G Projects, La Jolla, California
2024
Works exhibited in 25th Anniversary exhibition at Laura Rathe Fine Art
‘Garden Party’ Exhibition at Laura Rathe Fine Art, Texas
Various works on show with Joanne Artman Gallery, California
2023
‘Grande Fete’ Group Exhibition with Laura Rathe Fine Art, Houston,Texas, USA
Various works exhibited with RVP Gallery, UK
Group Show at S’Estacio Gallery, Petra, Mallorca
2022
Portraits installed in luxury suites at Fouquet’s New York Hotel, New York, USA
Works on show at Little Art Boutique, Palma, Mallorca
2021
Various works on show at RVP Gallery, UK
2020
Representation by RVP Gallery, UK to 2023
Featured in ‘Best Selling Women Artists of All Time’ with Saatchi Art
2019
The Other Art Fair, Group Show, London, UK
Front cover & featured artist in Saatchi Art Spring Catalogue ‘The New Masters of 2019’
Featured in Inside Artists magazine
2018
Featured in Saatchi Collection ‘Year in Review 2018: Top Painters
Featured in both Spring & Fall Catalogues, Saatchi Art
Night of Art Group Exhibition, Algaida, Mallorca
Various artworks on show at Ahoy Gallery, Palma, Mallorca
2017
Two artworks shown via Art Box Projects, Basel, Switzerland
Various artworks on show at Ahoy Gallery, Palma
2016
Nit d’Art at new Ahoy Gallery, Palma, Mallorca
Various artworks on show at Ahoy Gallery, Palma, Mallorca
5th Anniversary Exhibition, Art Mallorca Gallery, Palma, Mallorca
‘In Movement’ Group Exhibition, Art Mallorca Gallery, Palma, Mallorca
2015
Various artworks exhibited at Ahoy Gallery, Port Adriano, Mallorca
Group Exhibition at Ambiente Gallery, Llucmajor, Mallorca
2014
Various works exhibited at Ahoy Gallery, Port Adriano, Mallorca
Group Exhibition at Ambiente Gallery, Llucmajor, Mallorca
2013
Group Art Exhibition, Cuidadanos Europeos, Sa Taronja, Andratx, Mallorca
Exhibition of animal portraits, Santa Ponsa Country Club, Mallorca
Night of Art Group Exhibition, Mood Beach Club, Portals, Mallorca
2012
Solo Exhibition at Open Studio, Algaida, Mallorca
2011
Works on the theme of ‘Mountain Art’ exhibited at various venues in Gstaad, Switzerland
Joint exhibition at Port Adriano Hotel, Santa Ponsa & Hotel Golf Santa Ponsa, Mallorca
2009
Solo exhibition at ‘Barrocco’, Palma, Mallorca
2003
Group Exhibition at La Hacienda de Zapata Gallery, Son Ferriol, Mallorca
2001
Solo Exhibition at Aztec Café, Palma, Mallorca
1998
Group Exhibition at Sussex Art Club, Brighton, UK
1997
Group Exhibition at Gardner Arts Centre, Brighton, UK
Studied for 6 weeks at Ecole des Beaux Arts, Nice, France & work in their collection
1996
Group Exhibition at Easton Rooms Gallery, Rye, UK
1992
Solo Show at the Albion Gallery, Lewes, UK
1991
Printmaking Exhibition at South Bank Centre, London, UK
Brighton Illustrators Group Exhibition, Brighton, UK (won first prize)
1989
‘Discerning Eye’ Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London, UK
1988
’13 Well Hung’ Degree Show at Art Centre, London, UK
Related Professional Experience:
2025
Interviewed for ‘Humans of Mallorca’ about my art practice
2024
Finalist in Women in Art Prize, UK
2022
Featured in an article in the New York Times about my work in Fouquet’s New York Hotel
2021
Interviewed by Ultima Hora newspaper about my work
2018
Interviewed by Klassic Magazine
2014
Featured in book ‘Mallorca’s Best Recommendations’
Interviewed by IB3 Television about my artwork & filmed in studio, Mallorca
2001-2013
Freelance professional artist undertaking the designing, drawing & painting of frescoes and other related decorative finishes in private homes & businesses for interior designers, Mallorca
2005
Commissioned to produce 2 large scale drawings of Rodin & Utrillo for a client in Japan
1991-1999
Freelance Illustrator for Bridgewater Books Ltd, Lewes, UK.
Published works included ‘The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Arthurian Legends’ (Element Books), ‘The Celtic Book of Days’ (Godsfeld Press), ’10,000 Dreams’ (Element Books) & ‘Winter Solstice’ (Element Books)
1997
Commissioned by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, London to produce a painting incorporating their logo for use on banners/posters for a conference. That artwork is now in their permanent art collection, London.
1996
Commissioned by Design Revolution, Brighton, UK to produce illustrations for a brochure for the Federation of Small Businesses.
1995
Commissioned by Satel Doc television company in London, UK to produce illustrations for a documentary on the life of King Arthur for the Arts Entertainment Network, USA. Later broadcast on Channel 4, UK.
Corporate/Public Collections:
Institute of Chartered Accountants, London, UK
Ecole des Beaux Art, Nice, France & Fouquet’s New York Hotel, USA