Description

Victoria Sills

Victoria works across multiple disciplines, primarily with paint, print & drawing using traditional methods to explore contemporary subjects such as mental health in an ever-increasing technological world. Victoria is interested in making contemporary art accessible to wider audiences by using traditional techniques.

Although the work can appear minimal, there is a sense of strong emotion to it, often trying to capture the character and essence of the subject with a series of expressive marks and a limited palette within a confined space.

In 2025 she had a solo show at The Stone Space Gallery, London and was selected as a finalist in the D Contemporary Open Call 2025 with a group show at the Mayfair gallery.

Selected group exhibitions include The ING Discerning Eye 2024, Society of Women Artists 2025, 2024, The Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize 2023 and The Royal Institute of Oil Painters 2022, 2023. She also took part in the Sky Portrait Artist of the Year TV show and appeared on Heat 1 of Series 10 in 2023.

Artist Statement

The ‘Masking’ series of paintings and drawings intend to explore feelings of isolation and anxiety and examine the way in which we can often conceal our true emotions.

The paintings explore themes of masking as a female. They are set in a non-specific 1970s/80s era where many neurodivergent conditions were undiagnosed. Girls in particular often face pressure to hide or change their natural traits in order to fit in socially. Masking can help avoid bullying or judgement short-term, but has been shown to cause long-term harm to mental health. The painted masks and hats overtly symbolise this, with the lone central figure separate from the party, isolated in their own mind.