MORAG CONWAY ARTIST
Painter of people and memory, holding what passes in paint
In my painting I am drawn to moments of stillness that feel unguarded and familiar, where expression and gesture carry meaning without being staged. Quiet figures carrying feelings that are larger than themselves.
My work focuses on intimate portraiture and figurative painting, exploring relationships, care, and quiet moments of connection. I work primarily in oil, allowing the medium’s flexibility to build shifts of light, colour, and texture that support emotional presence.
As a mother of three, I feel keenly how quickly people grow and familiar moments become memories. This awareness runs through my portraits of children and families, as well as my more personal paintings exploring motherhood, belonging and our connection to nature. My Scottish roots and love of wild places bring an instinct for atmosphere, tenderness and mystery. I am drawn to folklore, symbolism and the uncanny and find that they increasingly shape my work and understanding of self and place.
My relationship with art has grown through both study and experience. Studying art history and social anthropology at St Andrews, followed by postgraduate study in art theory, history and display at Edinburgh, deepened my curiosity about people, images, and the stories they hold.
Over fifteen years working with art and antiques in international auction houses and Mayfair galleries, I have spent time looking closely at objects and paintings, considering what gives them lasting resonance. Alongside this, courses at Edinburgh College of Art and St Martins have helped me to explore and develop my own painting practice.
Morag has really brought their bond & personalities to life... we’ll treasure this painting for years to come'
A.P.