Holly Frean

Infused with wit and humour, Holly Frean finds character in a crowd, transforming animals, people and icons from art history into personality-filled works full of character and playfulness. Through subtle expressions, gestures and movements, she captures the quirks that make each subject unmistakably their own.

Holly is an artist of exceptional dedication and vision. She began her formal training as an architect and draughtsman but painting portraits took over. Her studio practice has since grown to include picture-making in all its forms, typically oil paintings on canvas and gouaches on paper, also printmaking and 3D work. Over the past decade she has evolved a highly personal and technically accomplished style.

Having been exhibited extensively across the UK and America, Holly has won numerous accolades including the 2012 National Open Art Competition Painting Prize (awarded by Grayson Perry) and regularly shows at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and the ING Discerning Eye at Mall Galleries in London. Commissions include those from Larry David, the Duchess of Northumberland, designer Betty Jackson, comedians Russell Howard and Ricky Gervais, hotelier Kit Kemp, actor Russell Tovey and retailer Johnny Boden. Holly's imagination and versatility have recently led to coveted textile, ceramic and wallpaper collaborations with Anthropologie, Burberry, Andrew Martin and Paul Smith.

Mixed Exhibition

6 Jan - 4 Mar 2026

Beginning with Dan Jamieson, Maria Fletcher, Ella Freire, Holly Frean, Kate Jenkins, Jonathan Lawes and Jo de Pear, all kicking off the year with colour.

Deck the Walls

25 Nov - 23 Dec 2025

The festive season has arrived, and with it our annual Christmas show is back. Whether you're hunting for that perfect gift or fancy spoiling yourself, our final show of the...

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Holly Frean

About

Mixed Exhibition

Deck the Walls

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