a brief ish biography

Born in South Africa, then an early childhood in Washington DC, she eventually moved to England, where at 16 she started her artistic career at Plymouth Art College. At 18 she attended the Sir John Cass School of Art, Whitechapel, before studying for a Fine Art  Degree  at Reading University.  During her time at Reading Rachel focused  on performance art. Besides her solo projects, she also led The Performance Group,  producing their staging of Picasso’s “Desire Caught by the Tail” and “The Four Little Girls”, the latter being the British premiere of the play. The surrealist and art historian Sir Roland Penrose was closely allied with Rachel during this period and guided her through the idiosyncrasies of the play, which he had translated into English at Picasso’s request.  The plays were performed at The Hayward Gallery, Southbank, Brighton Festival, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Reading University and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  While studying for her MA Fine Art at Chichester University Rachel wrote and produced various performances, films and sound pieces, including a multi-media play for Pallant House Gallery and the Festival of Chichester.

Rachel is currently exhibiting at The Koppel Project in Kingston and The Hidden Garden Gallery in British Columbia (Canada); she has also exhibited widely at venues and events such as the Royal Academy, The Frivoli Gallery, Teddington Artists, Summer and Autumn Art Fairs London, Battersea Art Fair, Illustrators and Artists Art Fair (headline artist), London Open Studios, The Nuffield Theatre, Waterman’s Arts Centre, The Ashcroft Arts Centre, Harbour Lights, local art shows and open studio events.    Throughout her life she has continued to work as a professional artist and has carried out many commissions such as:  a swimming pool glass mural for the Kensington Hotel;  ceiling murals for a pub chain; murals for  schools; boardroom paintings for Lambert Smith Hampton property developers; as well as many private commissions.

She has completed several commissions for greetings card publishers and book illustrations, and is also known  for her company “The Great Art Expedition”, taking experimental art into schools, adult course centres, and into the Royal Parks, promoting art and creativity for all ages and all abilities. 

Rachel was also until recently the lead art tutor for various colleges and organisations in London and the south of England for several years, and is a film reviewer for international  film festivals.