Shiam Wilcox lives, works, and travels along the canals and waterways of the UK. She paints in her floating studio workshop, onboard her little boat ‘Fern'. Her oil paintings feature birds and botanicals, used in a symbolic manner and are inspired by the folklore, tales and superstitions of rural Britain.

Each flower is carefully chosen to compliment the featured bird’s status. Separating her subjects from their everyday existence, the artist elevates them to the status of an icon, supported by vast amounts of symbolic flora. Accurate proportions are irrelevant in Wilcox’ work. Instead, she prefers to play with these elements to highlight her subject and create a maximalist, almost abstract floral background. Her techniques are influenced by traveller culture, where almost everything is highly decorative and her paintings reflect the stories that she comes across during her travels.

"I use my paintings as an attempt to connect with my ever changing environment as a traveller, and to discover forgotten beliefs and stories that are held in these places."

The artist currently works while travelling the UK.