These 7 Artists From the Algarve Should Be on Your Radar

Inspired by the Algarve’s unique nature, Flesseman settled in the fishing village of Olhão after living and studying in the Netherlands and Russia. Among her favourite aspects of the Algarve are its individuality, specifically the people and the marine/fishing vibe, as well as the simple and laid-back lifestyle. Painted canvases are among her specialties, but she also branches out and seeks more inspiration from Portuguese culture, such as azulejo tiles (pictured below).
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Caroline Wood moved to west Algarve from London in 2002, where she brought her creative career to life. Before moving, this watercolourist and oil painter worked in the corporate world as a banker. Today, she pairs her passion for art with natural therapy and is a certified kinesiologist. Caroline’s art work is inspired by nature and she holds regular exhibits.

Alyson Sheldrake moved to the Algarve from the UK with her husband, photographer David Sheldrake, where she worked in both law enforcement and education. Her passion for art eventually pushed her in an opposite direction entirely, however, and Alyson opened her Portuguese studio, ready for a life of beauty, colours and creativity. Every aspect of her pieces is unique, from the shapes and hues applied to the art boards used (she creates her own art boards instead of painting on store-bought canvases), and she regularly uses her husband’s photographs as inspiration. From antique doors to boats and even pet portraits, Alyson captures a wide range of images in her artwork.

For lovely acrylic paint work on canvas, Liz Allen is a fantastic artist to follow. Another UK native who followed the sun to the south of Portugal, Allen now lives and works from Monchique in the center of the Algarve. Her work is vibrant, bold, colourful and unique, and Liz uses a variety of techniques to create each piece, which usually features buildings and homes. Visit her studio while exploring the Algarve, or check out her work on her Facebook page.

BJ Boulter may live in the Algarve, but many of her paintings are inspired by her past in Africa and include people, places and animals. Today, she uses both acrylic and watercolour paints to create each canvas, but she once put her talent towards television and film sets and costume design. BJ’s lovely images and sketches can be viewed on her website.

Abstract art stems from people, places, and things in everyday life, and artist Diederik Vermeulen‘s work is a great example. His paintings are often times dreamy interpretations of everyday objects, such as trees, Algarve homes or boats in the sea. His work has been featured in galleries through the Algarve, and he has been invited for special exhibitions with other artists as well.

Glass sculptures and painting graphics are Henryka Woerle‘s forte, and she received a degree in both fields from the Wroclaw’s Academy of Fine Arts in Poland. Her background also took her to Germany, but in 1998, Henryka found herself in the popular seaside village of Carvoeiro, Portugal. Her work has been shown in exhibitions all over the Algarve and through Portugal, as well as in Austria, Germany and Poland.