Ellis is a contemporary artist whose work focuses on what it means to be a woman today. Through her powerful and emotional portraits, she explores themes of identity, strength, and the struggles women often face but don’t always discuss.

In this interview, Ellis opens up about how becoming a mother changed the way she saw the world, making her realize the inequalities that still exist. She explains how painting became both a personal healing process and a way to speak out about these issues. She also shares how her background in charity work influences her art, using storytelling to connect with people on a deeper level.

This conversation gives us a closer look at her journey, her creative process, and the emotions behind her work. More than anything, Ellis’s art is about honesty—bringing hidden stories into the light and making sure women feel seen and understood.

Ellis is a contemporary figurative artist whose work exposes what it means to be a woman. Through poignant and thought-provoking portraiture, she examines themes of vulnerability, resilience, and identity, offering a profound reflection on the female experience. Ellis’s distinctive style blends realism with abstraction, challenging patriarchal narratives and inviting viewers to see themselves in her work. Her paintings reflect the complexities of modern womanhood, offering a deeply personal exploration of identity and shared feminine experiences. Born in 1989, Ellis initially pursued art before transitioning to a career in charity marketing. In 2019, following the premature birth of her son, she returned to painting as both personal therapy and a protest against the inadequate support provided to women and families during such challenging experiences.

Her work seeks to subvert patriarchal systems that persist in failing women, exposing the enduring realities of societal inequality we face today. Ellis’s paintings go beyond traditional portraits; they create a space where personal and shared stories come together, offering a powerful exploration of identity and the human experience. Her work has been exhibited widely and is represented by esteemed galleries such as Thompson’s, Clifton Fine Art, and Prince & Pilgrim. Bold and unapologetic, her art captivates collectors and enthusiasts with its authenticity and meaningful, contemporary figurative expression.

1. Your work powerfully explores modern womanhood. What personal experiences most shape your artistic voice? 

My work is deeply personal, and everything I create is rooted in real experiences. The biggest turning point for me was having my son. It was a real lightbulb moment. Until that point, I think I had been quite naive—I was part of a generation where things had progressed enough that it was normal for girls to go to university, to have careers, and to be told we had the same chances as anyone else. I believed that. I thought equality had, more or less, been achieved. But when I became a mother, piece by piece, the veil was lifted. I started seeing things differently—expectations, biases, the invisible labor women carry.

It made me reassess everything, and it became clear how much the playing field still isn’t level. Being a mother while also trying to build a career has made that even more apparent. The way the world is set up doesn’t always make space for both. That shift in perspective fuels so much of my work now. A big part of what I’m doing is reanalyzing all of those things I hadn’t seen before—questioning the stories we’re told about what it means to be a woman, and exploring the reality of it instead. I want to bring those hidden experiences into the light, to give space to the emotions, the contradictions, and the raw honesty of being a woman today.

A big part of what I’m doing is reanalyzing all of those things I hadn’t seen before—questioning the stories we’re told about what it means to be a woman, and exploring the reality of it instead.

Ellis King

2.    Returning to painting after your son’s birth became both therapy and protest. How did that pivotal moment influence your creative process?    

Returning to painting after my son’s birth was a bit of a lifeline. At first, it was therapy—I was trying to process everything, from the trauma of my pregnancy and his premature birth to this sudden, overwhelming shift in how I saw the world. But very quickly, it became more than that. It became a protest. Painting felt like my small way of fighting for women, of trying to generate some kind of change. The more I painted, the more I realized that so many of the experiences I was unpacking weren’t just mine—they were universal, but often left unspoken. My work became about making those moments visible, about confronting the things we’re conditioned to just accept.

In terms of my creative process, it made me braver. I stopped worrying about making things ‘palatable’ or fitting into what people expected. I leaned into rawness, into vulnerability, into the quiet but powerful emotions that often go unnoticed. My work can be quite divisive, and I know that—but it’s not about trying to shock people. It’s about being honest. Sometimes honesty is uncomfortable, but that’s where the real conversations start. Now, every painting feels like both an act of expression and resistance. It’s about holding up a mirror to those hidden experiences, the ones we’re told to push aside, and saying, ‘No, this matters. We matter.’

3.    Your portraits blend realism with abstraction—how does this style help you challenge patriarchal narratives?

Blending realism with abstraction allows me to challenge patriarchal narratives in a way that feels both emotional and disruptive. The realism in my work grounds it in something familiar—these are real women, with real emotions and experiences. But the abstraction allows for distortion, for fluidity, for things to be a little unsettled. And I think that reflects womanhood perfectly. Women are so often expected to be one thing—polished, composed, easy to define. But the reality is much more complex. By breaking away from strict realism, I can push against that expectation. I can let emotions take over, allow a face to be partially obscured, or use color and form to hint at something deeper beneath the surface.

It’s about resisting the idea that women should fit neatly into a box, that we should be easily understood or contained. Abstraction also plays a key role in how people connect with my work. While the portraiture can be quite detailed, the abstract elements create space for the viewer to step back, to place themselves in the painting. It allows for a more personal interaction, where someone can bring their own emotions and experiences into the piece rather than just observing someone else’s. In a way, that mirrors the broader theme of my work—questioning the narratives we’ve been given and inviting people to see things differently. For me, it’s about honesty. And sometimes, the best way to tell the truth isn’t through perfect clarity—it’s through contrast, distortion, and raw emotion.

4.   What stories or emotions do you hope women see reflected in your paintings? 

I want women to see their own stories in my work. While each painting is deeply personal and captures an emotion that’s true to the person I’m painting, there’s something universal about the experiences of women. We’re so often pitted against one another, but in reality, we’re united in far more than we’re divided. Because of that, I hope my work allows people to not only see themselves but also someone they love—a friend, a sister, a mother. The emotions I explore, whether it’s strength, sadness, defiance, or quiet contemplation, are ones that so many of us have felt at different points in our lives.

That’s why I use abstraction alongside realism—so the viewer has space to step into the work, to connect with it in a way that feels personal to them. At its core, my paintings are about honesty. I want to capture the raw, unfiltered moments of womanhood, the things we don’t always say out loud but know to be true. If someone looks at my work and feels seen—or sees someone they love reflected in it—then I know I’ve done what I set out to do.

More than anything, I want my paintings to be seen in the truest sense—to resonate, to make people pause, to spark something personal in the viewer.

Ellis King

5.  You transitioned from charity marketing back to art. How does your background in advocacy inform your work today?  

My background in charity marketing and fundraising plays a huge role in how I approach my work today. In that world, I was always focused on storytelling—on finding ways to connect with people emotionally, to help them understand an issue, and ultimately, to inspire them to take action. I think that’s exactly what I do with my art now. The difference is that instead of using words or campaigns, I use paint. But the goal is the same: to shed light on stories that need to be told, to make people feel something, and to create a sense of connection. Fundraising was always about trying to help others—about encouraging people to care and to play a part in making a difference. Ultimately, my work now aims to do the same thing for women. Honesty is at the core of everything I paint. I want to reflect on the emotions and realities that don’t always get spoken about—the exhaustion, the frustration, the resilience, and the quiet strength that so many women carry.

I think my time in fundraising also made me very aware of the power of visual storytelling. In marketing, you’re always thinking about how an image or a message resonates—what makes someone stop, feel something, and engage. That awareness carries through into my paintings. I want my work to speak to people, to draw them in emotionally, and to start a conversation. So in many ways, my art is just another way of doing what I’ve always done—trying to connect people to something bigger than themselves. Whether that’s through raw emotion, quiet defiance, or the complexities of womanhood, I hope my paintings create space for reflection, understanding, and recognition.

6.   You’ve exhibited in many prestigious spaces. Which show felt most meaningful to you, and why?

Each show has meant something different to me, but Thompson’s Gallery Annual Exhibition stands out as a particularly meaningful one. It had always been a bit of a dream to work with a gallery, and when Thompson invited me to exhibit in their group show, it was a real pinch-me moment. Thompson’s is such a well-regarded space, and to have my work included in their annual exhibition felt like a huge milestone. It wasn’t just about the prestige—it was about knowing that my work would be seen by people who truly engage with art, collectors who could connect with the narratives I’m exploring. That’s always been important to me.

More than anything, I want my paintings to be seen in the truest sense—to resonate, to make people pause, to spark something personal in the viewer. That show also marked a shift in my confidence as an artist. When you transition into the art world later, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly trying to prove yourself. But having a gallery like Thompson’s believe in my work was a real validation of the path I’m on. It reminded me why I do this—to share stories that matter, to bring honesty and emotion into my paintings, and to create work that speaks to people on a deeper level.

Ellis’s art is more than just visual expression—a statement, a conversation, and an act of resistance. By capturing the complexities of modern womanhood with honesty and depth, she invites viewers to see themselves, their loved ones, and the collective female experience in her work. As she continues to exhibit in renowned galleries, her mission remains clear: to bring hidden stories to light and challenge the narratives that have long defined women. To learn more about Ellis, click the following links to visit her profile.

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