Hannah Shergold | Solo exhibition 2026

Hannah Shergold is a contemporary artist whose work bridges the gap between abstract and expressionist figuratism. She is entirely self-taught, developing her technique as a hobbyist during a career as an Army helicopter pilot. Her background is littered with influences, including her studies of veterinary anatomy for a Cambridge zoology degree, and a 3-year period as a bronze realist sculptor prior to her military career.

In 2018, having drawn a following for her style of ‘broken’, interrupted form, Hannah left the Armed Forces to pursue a full time career as a self-representing artist. Nurturing a growing reputation and client base she continued to expose the work to new audiences, hosting six solo exhibitions in central London, including at Mall Galleries in 2022 and 2025, as well as solo exhibitions in Winchester and Cheltenham.

Ever willing to experiment with new products and techniques, Hannah plays with the juxtaposition of fluid acrylics and impasto oils whilst anchoring each collection to her original ‘broken’ style. Her passion for anatomical accuracy, with heavy influence from George Stubbs, Sir Alfred Munnings and contemporary artist Christian Hook, has enabled her to push the boundaries of colour and pattern. She says: “There is expectation in the anatomy –  it is the anchor that allows the viewer’s eye to lose and regain the form whilst travelling through and around the painting – but everything else is there to be messed with.”

Hannah is deeply drawn to movement in her work. Whether the subject itself is depicted in motion, or it is the mark-making that brings life to an otherwise static subject, she is relentless in seeking ways to escape from realism. From sweeping, gestural curves to a timelapse of motion in the subject itself, here Hannah looks to Jenny Saville for her overlayed sketches and bold application of paint. 

Hannah’s focus on animals as her subject breaks from current trends in the art world, but is something she feels passionate about representing. She says: “In an increasingly urbanised and chaotic world, animals in art bring a sense of connection with nature. They trigger memories, they invoke emotion and they connect us with the living world when there is ever more temptation to disconnect from it. It is my intention as an artist to celebrate the ancient human relationship with figurative work while exploring just how far I can push it into the abstract.”

Twice a finalist for the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year, and a competitor in the 2019 series of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year, Hannah now works from her studio in Winchester, Hampshire, producing just one exclusive collection per year. She is an ambassador to Prince William’s African community and wildlife conservation charity, Tusk, and last year partnered with Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood to paint his portrait which was donated and auctioned for the charity. Having now raised almost £500,000 for various causes through the sale of her work, this year she is donating a further 10% of all sales to Tusk.