Sue Kerrigan-Harris
Art makes my heart sing and my soul smile!
Sue’s creative journey centres on one clear purpose: to capture the essence of life in calm, caring realism and to bring my students along with me so they can feel confident and joyful with soft pastels too.
Early Life
Sue has always loved drawing from as early as she can remember. Following a string of unfulfilling careers, Sue discover art as a career later in life and it wasn’t until 2015 when she received a Christmas present of 6 pastel pencils that she started to explore this ambition. Over time that early love for art evolved into a deeper passion for using soft pastels to create realistic, expressive works.
Artistic Style
Sue works primarily in soft pastels and pastel pencils sometimes combined with ink and gouache. She focuses on realism, whether capturing a portrait, an animal, her pieces bring together careful observation, subtle blending, and a sensitive use of colour and light. She aims for clarity and depth, allowing the pastel’s softness to convey mood and atmosphere while retaining fine detail.
Process
Her process often begins with a loose pencil or charcoal sketch to map proportions. Then, working in layers, she builds up colour gradually, refining shapes, textures, and transitions in values. Mistakes or unexpected marks are part of the journey; rather than hiding them immediately, she sometimes uses them as creative guides to reshape and improve the drawing. This approach reflects her belief that every “imperfection” can become a doorway to discovery.
Reflection
With each piece, Sue hopes to share more than an image, she wants to evoke a feeling. A sense of calm, of presence, of connection to something living and real. She believes art can be a gentle conversation between artist and viewer, and hopes her pastel paintings invite that kind of quiet reflection and emotional resonance.
Exhibitions
Sue exhibits her work at local exhibitions including the New Forest Painters exhibition and New Forest Art & Collectables.
Teaching
Sue’s joint passions are art and teaching art. Through her local soft pastel workshops in Marchwood, her online soft pastel tutorials and courses and her flagship membership – Soft Pastel Skills Hub, she offers teaching, guidance and support to complete beginners and fellow artists seeking to develop their pastel skills, helping others to find confidence, flow and joy in their own soft pastel journey.
Contact Sue
- For commissions contact via email or call 07740 282399
- Online Soft pastel tutorials
- Sue’s membership program: Soft Pastel Skills Hub which includes monthly projects and weekly online classes (fully recorded)
- In-Person Workshops
- Email to book for Art Society demonstrations and workshops
