Esther Douglas: The Paddlers

About the artist

Esther Douglas is a Manchester-born artist who recently graduated with a first-class degree in Painting and Printmaking from the Glasgow School of Art. Her practice is built on the act of documentation, specifically the ordinary and overlooked moments found within the people and places she encounters. Her process begins outside the studio, using observational drawing and conversation to collect stories and fleeting scenes in her sketchbook.

In the studio, Douglas translates these sketches into larger oil paintings, where she balances a clear drawn line with thick, impasto marks. She chooses oil paint for its material richness, allowing the texture of the paint to reflect the physical presence of her subjects. Her printmaking—spanning screenprint, lino, and woodcut—follows a similar iterative logic. By building up layers on the surface, she mimics her drawing process to capture the specific textures of her surroundings.

A member of the Glasgow Print Studio and recipient of their Graduate Award, Douglas has exhibited widely across Glasgow, including solo shows and group exhibitions at the New Glasgow Society and French Street Gallery. Her work is currently represented by Scotland Art and the Annan Gallery. Through her focus on observed life, she aims to create a visual prompt for the viewer to slow down and look longer at the world around them.