The Big Calm. Part of East Kent Open Houses. 24/25 October at Stephanie Fuller Gallery, 4 South Street, Deal, CT14 7AW
About
Maria Underwood is largely a self-taught Kent based oil painter who paints the figure, often in relationship with nature to highlight the beauty within humanity and the natural world we inhabit.
Underwood’s artistic enquiry began when she married her soul mate and needed an outlet for positive emotion. Her first paintings were portraits for family and portrait commissions of other peoples loved ones. More recently, these paintings include human figuration, often in relation with the natural world, as a reminder of our shared living presence, and desire for calm.
Working from observation, photography and imagination, Underwood interprets the portrait, figure, fauna and natural scenes into luminous, warm, luxurious paintings that glow with a beautiful mood. Shaping artworks using oils and mix media (including sketches, collage, oil pastel, emulsion and print elements) her work is ripe with emotional intelligence, individual artistic impulse and humanity.
"In a complex world of noise and distraction, we all have moments where we truly appreciate the warm beauty of humanity and nature. When we are present, the simplest moment - true, gentle and calm - can be profoundly moving and bring clarity among chaos. Art can reflect this beauty, prompting us to pause and reconnect with the calmer, deeper more meaningful current of life."
Exhibitions & Awards
Maria Underwood appeared as a contestant on Sky TV Portrait Artist of the Year in 2023 and has twice been shortlisted (2022, 2025) for the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025 - The Astor Theatre, Deal, Kent
2025 - South East Artist's Open Studios, Deal, Kent
2024 - South East Artist's Open Studios, Deal, Kent
2023 - East Kent Artists Open House, Deal, Kent
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 - The Stephanie Fuller Gallery, for East Kent Open Houses, Kent
2026 - The Stephanie Fuller Gallery, for South East Artist’s Open Studios, Deal, Kent
2026 - Linden Hall Studio, Deal, Kent
2025 - Linden Hall Studio, Deal, Kent
2024 - We Make it Home Studio, Deal, Kent
2024 - Pie Factory, Margate, Kent
2024 - Linden Hall Studio, Deal, Kent
2023 - Turner Rowe Art Centre & Gallery,, Ramsgate, Kent
2023 - Linden Hall Studio, Deal, Kent,
2023 - Turner Rowe Art Centre & Gallery, Ramsgate, Kent
2022 - Wooden Box Gallery, Ramsgate, Kent
2022. - Turner Contemporary, Margate, Kent
2021 - 2025 - Tap House Beer Café, Deal, Kent
2021 - Portraits for NHS Heroes (online)
2020 - South East Kent Artist Open Studios, Deal, Kent,
AWARDS
2025 - Shortlist, Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition
2023 - Contestant (1 of 63 chosen from 1800 applicants) on Sky Arts TV Portrait Artist of the Year (television), Portrait chosen by sitter (Nihal Arthanayake).
2023 - Longlist, Jackson’s Art Painting Prize
2023 - Longlist, Women in Art Emerging Women Painter and Photographer Prize
2022 - Shortlist, Supporting All Artists (SAA) Artist of the Year
2022 - Longlist, Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painters Prize
2022 - Shortlist, Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition,