Dara Park - Fine Art Painter
Dara was born and raised in London. After school she moved to France where she went to the École des Beaux Arts in Aix-en-Provence to study architectural draughtsmanship. However, the life drawing classes held far more appeal than technical drawing so during the time spent in that sun-drenched land of Cézanne, she gradually turned to fine art. She married and had children and spent a few more years in France and later also Japan. Now, although often visiting Cornwall and France, she is mainly based in Southwest London where she has her studio and lives with her husband and dog.
Having painted compositions of figures in acrylic and oils for much of her career, in 2020 she moved primarily to the medium of watercolour. The work on this website dates from that year until the present. The subject matter now comes from the gardens, woods and landscapes that she inhabits and visits in England and abroad. Through pattern, shapes and threads of colour she seeks to capture and interlace a lyrical and luminous potpourri of snapshots and observations based on these environments.
Various creatures are frequently juxtaposed into the arrangements. They are not always in plain sight, but for Dara they are each in their own way sentient beings, important to the ecosystem and part of the eclectic mosaic of life.
The paintings are grouped into six categories, namely, Small Panoramas, Grand Panoramas, Tapestries, Walks, Vertoramas (vertical paintings) and Mediterranean Notes.
Education
MA Fine Art (Painting) - City & Guilds of London Art School
BA French and Art History - Roehampton University, London
Exhibiting
Upcoming:
Open House - Wimbledon Art Trail – Trio exhibition - Dara Park, Isabelle Southwood and Ian Southwood Saturday 12th to Sunday 13th September 2026
Solo Show - Norman Plastow Gallery, Wimbledon - Friday 14th to Sunday 23rd May 2027
2026 Jackson's Art Prize - Extended Longlist
2021 RSSW (Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour) - 141st Open Annual Exhibition
2016-2026 Artfinder (online gallery)
2016 'Looking to the Stars' exhibition - The Brick Lane Gallery
2015 Merton Arts Trail with ‘Wild’ (Wimbledon Life Drawing)
2013 Merton Arts Trail Open House
2011 Merton Arts Trail Open House
2011 Open Studio (Spring + Autumn) – Wimbledon Art Studios
2010 Cork Street Open Exhibition — shortlisted
2009 Open Studio (Spring + Autumn) – Wimbledon Art Studios
2009 ‘Artists for Human Rights’ - Duo exhibition and panel discussion with artist and philanthropist Susan Mensah (1968-2024) - The Garden Hall, St Mary’s Church (Wimbledon)
2009 Guildford High School Charity Auction—Guildford High School
2008 Kings College Charity Auction—Cotman Gallery, Kings College, Wimbledon
2008 Open Studio (Spring + Autumn) – Wimbledon Art Studios
2007 Open Studio (Spring + Autumn) – Wimbledon Art Studios
2005 Christies Charity Auction with The Art Movement
2004 Islington Art & Design Fair - Candid Arts Trust
2004 Affordable Art Fair with Hicks Gallery
2004 Islington Art & Design Fair - Candid Arts Trust
2003 Thomas Eggar Solicitors, London
2003 City & Guilds MA Degree Show
2001 4Cast Ltd. London – Solo representation throughout company offices
2001 Ashridge Young Artists’ Exhibition (Hemel Hempstead)
2000 Dearle & Henderson Exhibition, London
1999 FI Young Artists’ Exhibition, Hemel Hempstead
1997 Ashridge Young Artists’ Exhibition, Hertfordshire
1996 Connoisseur Gallery, London
1995 The Cut Gallery, London
1985 Park Gallery, London
1984 RA Summer Exhibition, London
Additional viewing of work and communication
Instagram (daraparkpaintings)
Sales: Art finder (online gallery: Original Dara Park - artwork for sale | Artfinder) The works on Artfinder are different from those on this website and they are focussed on water based acrylic paintings.
Staying in touch: If you would like to contact me or sign up to my mailing list and 'studio notes', please email me at info@darapark.co.uk or if you prefer, message me on the Contact Dara page.