Cohesion among the madness

We speak to Eton artist Soozy Barker about the inspiration behind her ‘chaos of colour’

- Sarah Rodi

Abstract, layered, textured, and intriguing... Soozy Barker’s art plays with your imagination and evokes strong feelings of nostalgia. “My pieces are dreamscapes with a hint of something recognizable, a fond memory or calming thought,” she says. Looking at one of her paintings, Island Shores, I am transported to a balmy beach with whispering waves. It’s absolutely stunning.

“I have always been creative, but it was my father’s influence from a young age that inspired me to paint. You could say that art is in my blood. We opened The Barker Gallery in Eton 21 years ago, but my career really took off around 2015, when my work was published by The Art Group,” says Soozy.

“My biggest inspiration is nature. I have wonderful memories as a child being raised in Winkfield, always playing outside. We had a very large pond that we skated on in the winter and my frozen landscapes always take me back to those times. I would sit beneath the weeping willow tree in our garden, as it danced in the wind, and watched curiously as the shapes reflected on the water. I’m still fascinated by reflections and incorporate the imagery in my pieces. To me, nature is art. It’s one giant abstract canvas.”

Soozy and her family now live in a 17th-century shop-front townhouse in Eton, complete with a secret walled garden. “It’s a tranquil oasis in the heart of the High Street, surrounded by flowers and shrubs thanks to my other half, Ben, who is quite the horticulturalists. Our summer house serves as my art studio and my art gallery is in the shop at the front of our home,” she says.