These new paintings started life when I was researching in the archives of Country Life magazine. As well as back dated issues, the collection holds photographs of country houses dating back to the beginning of 20th century, many of which were never published. Some of the most beautiful and fragile interiors that I discovered now only exist in this archive. I subsequently found out that over the decades hundreds of decadent homes have been abandoned or destroyed by fire, this was completely fascinating for me.

The paintings attempt to recollect or recover something of what was lost in the fires. Alongside research at Country life I visited many country houses all over England. Spending hours in state rooms, dining rooms and having tea with National Trust stewards, discussing the imitation silk wallpaper and the restoration of 18th century sofas. I recorded reams of details ranging from the arrangement of fake wooden eggs in Sudbury hall’s parlour rooms to an original Tudor sprung floor of Flemish Oak at Clandon Park, perfect for dancing!

The interiors that affected me the most, when I visited them, may not be directly referenced in my new paintings. However, the experience of the atmosphere, smell and touch of a huge succession of interiors fed into the paintings on a subliminal level.

Louise Thomas, September 2008

Louise Thomas graduated from University College Falmouth in 2007, with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art. Since then her work has appeared in exhibitions in London, New York and Penzance, notably ‘4 New Sensations’, Truman Brewery, London, organised by Saatchi Gallery and Channel 4, ‘Interiors’, 10g Gallery, New York, ‘Kapellmeister Pulls a Doozy’, Seven Seven, London, ‘Sunspot Mirage’, Bischoff Weiss, London and ‘Second X-posure’, Revolver, PZ Gallery, Penzance.

In 2006 she was awarded the Ferdynand Zweig Memorial Travel Scholarship; in 2007 she was short-listed for the Celeste Painting Prize and 4 New Sensations.

Louise Thomas has recently been nominated for The Jerwood Painting Prize.