About Sheena Barry – Artist
Sheena began as a self-taught artist through taking part in small art sessions with other artists as well as being part of online art teachings. Her story began when she attended a painting workshop on a church weekend prophetic training course where visiting artists demonstrated how to paint prophetically to music and through this activity, her desire to paint was unlocked. Since then, she has gone on to complete her Masters in Arts in Painting at Coventry University (2025), where she was awarded Course Tutor’s Prize in Painting for achieving the highest on her course.
‘I am drawn to using a variety of techniques, marks and brush strokes to create textural effects and I love the idea that when you look at my paintings, it opens up thoughts, feelings, a ‘wow’ attitude, encouraging inspiring conversation of what is behind the narrative of the painting. I enjoy exploring the use of different makes of paints and how they work well together or the technique of how they leave interesting marks. My paintings have been inspired by my faith in God and I enjoy expressing how I view His creativity of landscapes, seascapes, nightscapes. I enjoy experimenting with the boundary between figurative work and abstraction that I see.’
Some of the modern day artists I admire include Caroline Walker with her use of identity of people in society and use of bold colours. I am presently exploring more in the field of water colours with Jo Allsopp. I learned a great deal from two fabulous mentors, Graham Chorlton, who demonstrated to me on how to let the paint do its ‘thing,’ and John Devane, who encouraged me to progress with innovative and creative painting styles.
In my leisure time, I enjoy exploring the length and breadth of the United Kingdom as well as other countries with my family. I frequently visit South Africa, where I was born, I am drawn to the vast landscape, magestic mountains, ebbs and flow of the sea and all wildlife. There is so much to celebrate life with through a painting.
