hello

I’m Irene Wood, a South African artist and lifelong creative. My work is shaped by both technical discipline and an instinctive trust in the painting’s own unfolding. What begins as an intentional response to nature, emotion, and atmosphere often evolves into something deeper—an exploration guided as much by skill as by intuition.

I paint to slow down moments: the quiet movement of light, the softness of colour, the whisper of a memory before it fades. My floral and nature-inspired pieces are rooted in realism yet softened by expressive movement, gentle whimsy, and textural emotion. I start by painting what I see, but I soon allow the artwork to direct me—letting each brushstroke react to the story emerging on the canvas. Some stories reveal themselves fully formed; others appear only as I paint, surprising me with a narrative I didn’t realise needed to be told.

My background in graphic and interior design brings a layer of intention to the process. Colour harmony, balance, proportion, and spatial awareness ground each piece, ensuring that even my most intuitive decisions rest on a strong foundation of design principles. This merging of structure and spontaneity is at the heart of my practice.

I work primarily in oils, building soft yet dynamic layers that invite the viewer to pause, breathe, and connect. My hope is that each artwork feels like a quiet conversation—an emotional moment shared between my story and yours, offering warmth, stillness, and a sense of presence in the spaces they inhabit.

Thank you for being here. I invite you to explore my works, and I hope that you’ll find a resonance and connection from my heart to yours.