Liz Murray Norfolk, United Kingdom

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At 35 I have experienced the world as a medical doctor, a woman with fertility issues, a mother and a human with an emotional response to the realities of life. I am now in a place where I want to use my experiences as a doctor to influence my art; invoking thought to instigate change. Putting the spotlight on inequalities in health, using art to share voices of real stories to empower.

I draw upon my experiences as a doctor to produce art that puts a spotlight on inequalities in health. Giving voices to stories of real people to encourage and inspire. I work predominantly in oil on canvas, usually larger scale pieces. I have a diverse portfolio, often producing hyper realism pieces that have subtle twists to reward those who take the time to look closer at the work. Liz, 35 from Norfolk UK, was born in the North East of England. Due to pursuing a degree in Medicine to become a doctor, Liz received no formal training in Art. However, was taught by her Grandfather, formerly an art teacher and artist of premier league football paintings, along with her father who was a successful freelance artist. Liz qualified as a doctor in 2011 when she moved to Norfolk and began selling large-scale acrylic landscapes and figurative pieces on Artfinder.

In 2016 Liz took a break from working as a doctor in Emergency Medicine. A combination of fertility issues, being diagnosed with Lupus and time pressures meant Liz took the opportunity for a break from the stethoscope to concentrate on the canvas. 2016 saw her launch LALOA (Live A Life of Art), a lifestyle brand of fine art and homeware celebrating country animals and tweed. The brand complimented her debut fine art collection of limited edition giclee watercolours - The Quintessential Country...in Wellies. So named because of the niche combination of painting country animals donning tweed flat caps and wellington boots. The collection quickly found international collectors.

2016-2018 Liz exhibited her collection at a number of British Country Estates, including with Country Living at The Game Fair, Ragley Hall and was featured in multiple magazines and seen in Vogue, World of Interiors and Country Living magazines. In 2018 Liz began to venture with her own gallery in Burnham Market, but following the premature and complicated birth of her son, followed quickly by the Covid-19 pandemic it was time for the paintbrushes to take a rest.

Liz returned to her scrubs and stethoscope in 2020 to work as an Emergency Medicine SpR during the pandemic. During this time Liz quickly found her muse changing to a more serious note after being profoundly affected by the pandemic. Liz's first public sculpture 'Fighting For Life' was a Finalist in the Visual Art Open Exhibition 2020. A combination of barbed wire and torn face masks was to depict the war scene and fragility of the PPE against what felt like an endless battle against an unseen force.

In 2022 Liz released the collection; People Bleed. A series of oil paintings using the egg as a symbol of fertility, motherhood and fragility. Liz drew upon her own experiences of pregnancy loss, premature birth and sexual discrimination to begin a collection to try to address the gender inequalities in health and society. Completing in 2023, the collection won an award for Curator's Choice for Women Bleed. The collection addressed fertility issues and loss and was a raw surrealism collection putting the spotlight on important health issues.

In 2023 Liz retired from a clinical facing role to formally work as a Professional Artist. 2023 saw Liz Longlisted for prestigious exhibitions such as the Visual Artists Association Professional Artist Award, Visual Art Open and a prize winning finalist in the Doncaster Art Fair. In 2023 Liz also appeared as a Wilcard in the SKY ARTS TV programme Landscape Artist of The Year. Her freelance illustration work continues and is set to release a number of children's books in 2023/2024.

Liz has produced a large number of portraits throughout her career. When Liz is not working on her collections, she uses the time to 'switch off' by painting portraits from a unique perspective.

2024 will see Liz embark on her largest multi-modal art project to date; Mortal & Strong. More to be announced in due course.