Phoebe R

Phoebe R (b. 1987, UK) obtained a First Class BA (Hons) in Graphic Design from University for the Creative Arts, UK in 2009, the same year she won the D&AD Best New Blood Award. Whilst working as a designer, art director and creative for brands such as Lane Crawford, Estée Lauder, MAC and La Mer, she has also created artwork for David Lynch and the Pixies (Grammy nominated design), designed a range of homeware that was sold at Liberty, The Natural History Museum (both London) and The Miami Beach EDITION, and had her work published in The Book of Skulls (Lawrence King). As a painter she has created a mural for a Riba Award Winning private residence in London and had a sold-out solo show in Hong Kong with her landscapes of Hong Kong. She is also known for her miniature pet portraits, with a portion of each sale donated to a local rescue.

As a response to many leaving the city and the development of old streets and land, Phoebe R records Hong Kong scenes on to miniature canvases. These pieces may then be tucked safely into luggage and taken away. They are fragments of Hong Kong emerging all over the world with the diaspora who collect them. The small size allows her to capture as many places as possible in detail. She feels a compulsion to record, as so much can change so suddenly. It also drives the intense focus of the viewer. “I would like to invite people to look very closely and cherish the significance of this special place”.