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Natalie Arnold was raised in Bedfordshire, a town north of London. Her earliest art influence was a book of Old Masters which she bought as a child and looked through often. She was fascinated by the paintings of Bosch, Durer, and de Vinci. She later became interested in the work of Marc Chagall, admiring his use of strong colours and magical realism. His portrayal of animals in paintings exerted a creative influence over Arnold’s work. Other influences include Munch, Duffy, Matisse and other less well-known naïve artists.
Arnold attended Bedford College in England and received an Art Foundation Diploma. She received a BA with honors in Interior Architecture from the University of Central England.
When asked why she became an artist, Arnold replies, "I have always been an artist. I love the fact that art has no boundaries and anything is possible. I can also learn a great deal about the world through the history and the future of art, and this is my preferred way to make discoveries about my own or other cultures."
Arnold prefers to work at night, sometimes listening to talk radio, sometimes listening to music - whatever helps the creative flow. She is never entirely sure how a painting will turn out. She is simply inspired one day, does the research, and when she begins to put the ideas on paper "the picture seems to paint itself."
Of her work, the artist says that different viewers see many different things in her work. Some have a particular favorite that reminds them of a place they’ve been to or other elements they can relate to personally. Arnold describes her work as atmospheric, humorous and magical. "I think people also like the naïve illustrative style of my work," says Arnold. "It may take them back to the mystery of being a child again."
Arnold’s work appears in the collections of Imparta, London; Jantec, Biggleswade; WA Academy, Hitchin and with various private clients. She has exhibited her work in various local galleries and restaurants in London and Brighton.
