Natalie Arnold was
raised in Bedfordshire,
a town north of London.
Her earliest art
influence was a book of
Old Masters which she
bought as a child and
looked through often.
She was fascinated by
the paintings of Bosch,
Durer, and de Vinci. She
later became interested
in the work of Marc
Chagall, admiring his
use of strong colours
and magical realism. His
portrayal of animals in
paintings exerted a
creative influence over
Arnold’s work. Other
influences include Munch,
Dufy, Matisse and other
less well-known naïve
artists.
Arnold attended
Bedford College in
England and received an
Art Foundation Diploma.
She received a BA with
honors in Interior
Architecture from the
University of Central
England.
When asked why she
became an artist, Arnold
replies, "I have always
been an artist. I love
the fact that art has no
boundaries and anything
is possible. I can also
learn a great deal about
the world through the
history and the future
of art, and this is my
preferred way to make
discoveries about my own
or other cultures."
Arnold prefers to
work at night, sometimes
listening to talk radio,
sometimes listening to
music - whatever helps
the creative flow. She
is never entirely sure
how a painting will turn
out. She is simply
inspired one day, does
the research, and when
she begins to put the
ideas on paper "the
picture seems to paint
itself."
Of her work, the
artist says that
different viewers see
many different things in
her work. Some have a
particular favorite that
reminds them of a place
they’ve been to or other
elements they can relate
to personally. Arnold
describes her work as
atmospheric, humorous
and magical. "I think
people also like the
naïve illustrative style
of my work," says
Arnold. "It may take
them back to the mystery
of being a child again."
Arnold’s work appears
in the collections of
Imparta, London; Jantec,
Biggleswade; WA Academy,
Hitchin and with various
private clients. She has
exhibited her work in
various local galleries
and restaurants in
London and Brighton.
