Always striving to produce the perfect picture

Ray West is an international award-winning pastel artist based in Essex, UK. His dedication to precision and detail has led him to develop a distinctive hyper-realism style, which is a hallmark of much of his work today.

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Passionate about capturing lifelike depth and realism, Ray embraces the challenge of bringing his subjects to life using pastels and pastel pencils. He meticulously refines colour, tonal values, and depth to create artwork that not only feels tangible but also allows viewers to fully engage with the subject matter. His goal is to evoke a sense of reality while celebrating the essence of his chosen themes.

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A self-taught artist, Ray developed a love for drawing in his early years but pursued a career in the banking and investment industries before reigniting his artistic journey in 2020.

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Initially focusing on commissions across a broad range of subjects, he found particular joy in painting automotive scenes inspired by his own references. Now, he is dedicated to developing a new body of original work that further defines and refines his unique artistic style. With each piece, he continues to push the boundaries of his craft, always striving to create the perfect picture every time.