Lucy Toop studied at Chelsea College of Art and the Surrey Institute before taking her MA in sculpture at Winchester School of Art in 1999.
Coming from a sculptural background, Lucy’s painting responds to the three dimensional physicality of life. She mostly paints directly from life en plein air to capture dynamic subjects such as dramatic seas or calm coves, ever changing light and energy.
Her work is characterised by directional mark-making in the paint texture, layering rich colours to create depth in the space, geological forms and translucency in water. Light, space and gesture become emotive and atmospheric.
Lucy lives in Cornwall - a place she has visited every year since childhood – and also Italy, where she and her husband bought an Italian ruin called Rimondato in 2006 which they are restoring to create an artists’ retreat. They have already created a space for students to come and learn, as well as work.
Despite her passion for Italy, back home she feels a particular affinity with the Penwith landscape, which is a strong source of inspiration. Her ancestors trace back to Perranuthnoe around 1600, and later became part of Mousehole’s life. Lucy enjoys exploring different areas of Cornwall.
