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Avril Ward is an established fine artist, living and working in the Cayman Islands, she was born in Scotland, raised in South Africa but has now made Grand Cayman her home.
With a background as diverse as her choice of media-- Her work changes and evolves as she is always interested in exploring new avenues in her art.
Skilled in oils, acrylic, charcoal, mixed media and clay, she usually works in series of a particular medium and themes.
Her appreciation of the environment, her observation of the obscure, her spirituality
and her good sense of humour is all evident in her paintings. Her power lies in her rendition of simply daily images we often take for granted.
Her latest paintings use bright colours and are free and loose- seemingly abstract but on closer
inspection almost all the work can be seen to depict the real world, rather than a purely imagined state.
Her recent return to sculpture, after a 17 year gap, has seen her spirituality expressed. In poignant elongated figures the delicate nature of humanity is skillfully revealed. Avril sculpts in clay, and casts her works in limited edition bronze.
Whether working in clay or paint, she is able to translate her considerable skill in realism into a much more fluid expression of the core emotion behind each work, moving as her passion for creating drives her.
Solo exhibitions
2010 A day in the life III’ National Gallery Cayman Islands: ‘
2008 “Conceptual Diversity” Visual art society, Pedro Castle, Grand Cayman.
2006/7 “Long Hot Summer’, Grand Old House
2006 “Woman” Westin Casuarina resort, Grand Cayman
2004/5 “Flavor” Grand Old House, Grand Cayman
2002 “Introduction to Avril Ward” Cracked Conch, Grand Cayman
2002 ‘Private Residence’, Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.
2001 Elsie Bart Gallery, Darling, South Africa
Recent Group Exhibitions
2010 Elevation Gallery Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman
2010 “10” Arteccentrix, Grand Cayman
2010 Art @ castle II Visual Art society Pedro Castle.
2009/10 Gallery Ritz Carlton
2009 Art for the Palate, Watler House Grand Cayman
2009 Art @Castle Visual Art Society Grand Cayman
2008 X power gallery LA, California USA
2008 ‘ Water sense’, Gallery Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman. Cont…..
2008 ‘Nickel and Brass’, Pure Art Gallery, Grand Cayman
2007 ‘Arrectly, Towards a cultural identity,’ National Gallery Grand Cayman.
2007 ‘Million Dollar Boat race’ Morgan Gallery, Grand Cayman
2007 ‘Melting Pot, Ritz Carlton’, Grand Cayman.
2007 ‘The collections,’ Morgan gallery Grand Cayman
2006,’Cayman on canvas,’ two woman show Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman
2005 ‘Breezes by the Bay’, George Town, Grand Cayman
2004 ‘Portrait of an artist’ National Gallery, Grand Cayman
2004/5/6 Cayfest, Grand Cayman
2003 “Parallel Realities’ Agora Gallery, New York
2000-2003 Numerous group exhibitions in Cape Town, South Africa
Recent achievements
2010 Awarded 3rd prize for a painting submitted to the “Ogiers art competition”
2009 Avril Ward received third place in the visual art category of online international art competition, “Clash of the artists ‘”which has artists from around the world competing
2007: Images of her ‘Fish Eye series’ of paintings were chosen to be printed on flags for the
National Heroes Day parade in George Town, Grand Cayman.
2007 Clico Insurance Company of Trinidad and Tobago chose artwork by Avril Ward to purchase for their Caribbean Art Collection. The said painting was also included in their very collectable 2008 calendar
2004 Avril Ward’s painting were selected to feature in the movie “haven” starring Orlando Bloom.
2003 Avril’s work was reviewed by NYC art critic Barbara K. Bernstein, for studio and gallery magazine. Barbara writes;
‘Avril Ward’s ability to depict ordinary events of daily living with sympathy and convey their significance through her flawless technique makes her a valuable and admirable contemporary realist.”
Ward’s work is included in the National Gallery of the Cayman Island collection as well as collectors as far abroad as Australia, Italy, Denmark, Germany and South Africa to name a few.
Artist’s statement.
I create because I must! It has become an intricately woven part of my life. There is no separation possible now; if I had to stop it would feel like one of my limbs was lost.
I must express nature, as it is my window to God.
I must delight in the human body.
I must express love and joy-this keeps them tangible in my life. Cont….
I must trust my instincts and follow the direction my skills take me.
I know that if I can move a person to think, pause, smile, ponder, cry, laugh or want to own one of my works, then I have served my purpose in life.”
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