Inside a Day of Art, Conversation and New Work
Discover highlights from Becky Smith’s live painting event at Wyecliffe Galleries in Weybridge, where collectors watched the contemporary artist at work, met Becky in person and gained an exclusive first look at her latest collection. This event retrospective explores Becky Smith’s creative process, new artworks, collector response and the value of experiencing contemporary art and live artist events in a gallery setting.
On Saturday, 19th September, contemporary artist Becky Smith transformed part of Wyecliffe Galleries in Weybridge into her working studio for an afternoon of live painting, conversation and an exclusive first look at a brand-new collection. What followed was one of those gallery events where the energy quickly became part of the experience.
Collectors arrived throughout the afternoon to watch Becky work first-hand, meet the artist, explore her latest ideas and see new artworks developing in front of them. Several pieces attracted immediate interest, with collectors securing works during the event itself.
For those who joined us, it was a rare opportunity to experience the creative process before the paintings reached the gallery wall.
What Is It Like to Watch an Artist Paint Live?
Finished artwork only tells part of the story. During the event, visitors could see the decisions, techniques and layers that normally happen privately within an artist's studio. Becky worked on pieces from her latest collection while speaking openly with collectors about her process, inspirations and the direction her work is taking.
Rather than simply viewing a completed painting, visitors could watch it evolve. The gallery became an informal working studio, with conversations taking place around the paintings as Becky worked. Collectors were able to ask questions about individual pieces, techniques and ideas, as well as speak with the Wyecliffe team about collecting, commissions and choosing artwork for their own spaces.
The First Look at Becky Smith's New Collection
One of the biggest draws of the afternoon was the opportunity to see Becky Smith's newest artworks before their wider release. The collection generated considerable interest from the moment the works appeared in the gallery, with visitors examining details up close, discussing their favourites and, in several cases, choosing pieces for their own collections during the event.
Seeing new work in this environment added another dimension. Visitors were not simply seeing the finished image. They could speak directly with Becky about where the idea had come from, how the painting had developed and the techniques behind it. For collectors, that connection between artist, artwork and story can make a piece particularly personal.
Bringing Artists and Collectors Together
Becky Smith has developed a distinctive approach to contemporary art, combining bold colour, layered detail and symbolism with work that frequently explores themes of emotion, resilience, transformation and personal experience. Her paintings often reward closer inspection, with details and techniques revealing themselves gradually rather than all at once.
The live event gave collectors the opportunity to explore that process directly with Becky, including the ideas behind her newest pieces and how her practice continues to develop. It also gave those encountering Becky's work for the first time the chance to meet the person behind the paintings before exploring the wider collection.
Events like this are an important part of what we want the physical gallery experience at Wyecliffe to offer. Art can be discovered online from anywhere in the world, but there remains something very different about standing in front of a painting, seeing its texture and scale and having the opportunity to speak directly with the artist who created it.
Since opening in Weybridge in 2004, Wyecliffe Galleries has worked closely with contemporary artists and collectors, creating opportunities to discover new work alongside exhibitions, artist appearances, private viewings and live events. Becky's live painting afternoon demonstrated exactly why those experiences matter. It was busy, conversational and, most importantly, centred around the artwork itself.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for the afternoon, and to Becky for allowing visitors into a part of the artistic process that is normally seen only inside the studio. The response to the new works was exceptional, and we are looking forward to sharing more from this latest chapter of Becky's practice.
If you were unable to attend the live painting event, you can still explore Becky Smith's collection at Wyecliffe Galleries, discover her latest available artworks and speak with our team about current pieces, commissions and future releases.
Becky Smith’s is one of emotion and instinct, where each brushstroke offers a glimpse into a deeply personal, ever-evolving world.
