BIOGRAPHY

Hazel Cook (originally Hazel Langhurst)

Early Life and Education:

I embarked on my artistic journey by studying fine art at St Martins School of Art (now Central St Martins), immersing myself in the vibrant creative atmosphere of London. Following my time at St Martins I continued my creative journey sharing a studio space at Butler's Wharf.

Family and Career Pause:

My path took a different turn when I decided to take a break from painting to focus on raising my family. During this time, I pursued interests in alternative medicine, training as a reflexologist and nutritional therapist. 

Return to Art:

In recent years I have been rediscovering my passion for painting. Attending workshops by artist Lupe Cunha helped me to rediscover my creative focus and inspired me to explore new techniques and approaches.

My artistic journey:

I like painting in the abstract to express feeling and emotion.  The paintings evolve, with each layer telling a story using colour, shape, texture, and form which the viewer is invited to explore. In my work, I experiment with various methods to create depth and complexity. I like the materiality of paint, exploring its tactile qualities through strokes, marks, splashes, dribbles, and stains to create a visual story. There is an interplay between spontaneous, intuitive, accidental, gestural and deliberate marks and shapes, with conscious decisions being made in the latter stages of the work. Recently my work has been inspired by walks in nature.  As I continue to evolve as an artist, I am excited to see where this journey takes me. My hope is that my work resonates with others, sparking moments of reflection and introspection.