"To paint three elements are required, the hand, the eye, and the heart. Two won't do." Chinese proverb.

My name is Vanessa Brassey.

I am a figurative painter and academic philosopher.

These are surprisingly sympathetic activities which allow me to investigate a number of unsolved puzzles using a wide variety of tools. 

Mostly, these puzzles are about emotions, pictures, and perception.

In my own picture making, I aim to capture the transient emotions that make up the quicksilver of our lives. My primary tools for this are colour and perspective. More on this here. 

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I am also a Visiting Researcher at King's College London, Director of the Centre for Philosophy and Art, and a JRSP 2021 Short List Art & Knowledge Awardee. My work in philosophy encompasses academic research and publications and also magazine articles, talks, and gallery events.

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At the moment I work primarily on projects that straddle both academic analytic philosophy and fine art painting. 

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Upcoming:

PARLIAMENT HILL LIDO CAFE

26TH APRIL - 15TH MAY 2022

'Lido or Pond, which swimmer are you?' New paintings and prints about swimming on the Heath. 

Prices start at £50 (unframed postcard size paintings) 

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This collection is growing and developing in response to feedback and input from the wonderful swimmers - please add your voice by filling in the form below.

Pond or Lido - which swimmer are you?

Thank you for participating in this project about the community of Lido and Pond Swimmers at Hampstead Heath. I plan to incorporate your feedback into the paintings and a film. You can choose to participate anonymously or opt-in to stay in touch (in which case I may contact you for an interview for the film). I'll post the progress of this series on my instagram.