Biography

Born in Portsmouth in 1974, Louise Duggan is a Chichester-based multidisciplinary artist whose work is a journey of discovery. After graduating from Leicester University in 1996 with a BA (Hons) in Art and Design, Louise embarked on a successful career in high-end interior design. She worked throughout London before relocating to Dubai, where she spent 23 years designing and producing bespoke artworks for prestigious clients. Her work is featured in many of Dubai’s five-star hotels, including a commission of nine paintings for the world’s first 7-star hotel, the Burj Al Arab.

Louise’s creative journey began early in life. At the age of four, she spent her childhood traveling across Africa while attending boarding school in the UK. The rich cultural experiences and vibrant landscapes of Africa became deeply influential in her work, which deftly incorporates elements of the African aesthetic. Her abstract human figures and bold compositions express ideas rather than subjects, inviting viewers to engage with the emotional and subconscious layers of her art.

Using mixed media, bright colours, and dynamic forms, Louise challenges her own subconscious beliefs through both therapy and her art, capturing and documenting this transformative journey. Her work reflects self-exploration, a medium through which she confronts and evolves her inner world.

In addition to her artistic practice, Louise currently runs Ophelia Art Consultancy LTD, with offices in the UK and Dubai, and the Sussex Creative Art Network CIC (Chichester CAN). She also curates and organizes exhibitions through her collective, Tea, Coffee, and Tequila. Louise’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at several art fairs, and has been featured in publications such as Arabian Vogue and World of Interiors.

ARTIST STATEMENT

No matter the diverse range of materials and techniques I use, a consistent theme of self-discovery threads through all my work. Each piece is an exploration of who I am, where I’ve been, and where I’m headed. Creating art is a deeply personal journey for me, a way to dive into my thoughts, emotions, and experiences, and transform them into a visual language. My work embodies my mixed-race heritage, the ongoing journey to dismantle false beliefs, and my evolving responses to the world around me

Having spent my childhood in Africa,  I was inspired by the Fauvist movement, their use of colours and  appreciation for the simplicity and directness of African art resonated with me. My love for abstract art is rooted in these early experiences, further enriched by my later study of the profound influence of African art on modern art. African art is embedded in my DNA so often I find myself marking a canvas with repetitive shapes or creating a mask like face when depicting a person.

I often move from one medium to another, driven by the desire to try something new, not always knowing how it will turn out. This process of discovery is at the heart of what I do; the more materials I experiment with, the closer I get to achieving the vision I have in my mind. Whether I’m incorporating gold leaf into a painting or blending acrylics with a textured medium, each piece is a unique exploration of both the material and the message I want to convey.

I have a sense of what I want to say, but the challenge is in figuring out how to say it through the art. I’ve always been drawn to artworks that communicate something, whether it’s an opinion, an emotion, or an experience. I want my work to invite the viewer in, to tell them a story or evoke a feeling that resonates on a deeper level.