Faye Gagel-Panchal

I achieved my BA Hons. degree in Fine Art Printmaking at Kingston-upon-Thames Polytechnic, now University. Initially I lived in Scotland, printmaking at Peacock Printmakers, and then concentrated on watercolour 'plein air' landscapes, 'still lives' and portraits.
I have also worked in ethically traded handcrafts as a Product Designer and Product Development Manager with an International medical charity for several years in Peterborough. Since 2004, I have been painting and exhibiting within the Peterborough area and took part regularly in the Open Studios exhibitions, 'Arts & Minds' exhibitions and joint exhibitions in Stamford Arts Centre , Peterborough Cathedral Gallery and a solo exhibition in Stamford Contemporary Art Gallery. I have also taken part in the Red Dot UK
printmaking touring exhibition.
My current work is predominantly based on Eastern textiles and latterly also ceramics, in the heritage collections in the V & A, the previous Clothworker's Museum (now V &
A East), National Trust properties and heritage sites in Europe. I use handmade Thai and Indian papers, oil paint, oil pastel, gold/silver enamel paints and resin to create my panels, and also my own more robust hand made paper. The panels and hand made paper 'fragments' are created over a fairly long time period and incorporate layers of paint with the final resin or varnish coat providing protection to the delicate work underneath.
I start with sketches and colour studies, which are I then translate into the design as it appears on the panel or fragment. I will include additional motifs as I progress through the painting so the piece is constantly evolving as I paint. The final resin coat is always an interesting stage as I'm not sure how the resin will react over the surface, either smoothly coating or pooling in uneven areas. An additional coat is sometimes required, so the whole final stage sometimes takes 6 days for complete hardening. I also use my own hand made paper to create sculptural works also inspired by textiles, which are fairly large in scale! It's quite a challenge to resin coat 3D sculptures so these take a considerable time to complete. I love teaching workshops on a small scale and have taught furniture painting, creative sessions based on my own method of working and more recently, mixed media sketchbook work in various locations. See my Instagram account! I am hoping to be able to offer workshops in the near future in: creative processes, decorative furniture painting, beginners printmaking and drawing.