Raquel Alvarez Sardina now lives and works in the Cotswolds, where she paints in a purpose-built garden studio that reflects the two distinct lighting environments of her work - one part with neutral grey walls for controlled chiaroscuro effects, the other brighter and more open for lighter compositions.
Her painting process is highly disciplined. Each work begins with a carefully arranged composition, sometimes taking hours of subtle repositioning to find the right balance. Once satisfied, she draws the image directly onto the surface with a fine brush, working from life, and allowing the natural light to shape the shadows and contours of her subjects.
In the case of many of her paintings, including Sorrento Lemon, the fruit is often still attached to the branch - a deliberate choice that enhances the sense of freshness and structure. The texture of the lemon skin, the dappled surface of the leaves, and the interplay of light and shade across the form are all rendered with exquisite control. The result is not simply a botanical study, but a moment of quiet contemplation - a celebration of nature's detail and rhythm.
Though influenced by the traditions of Spanish still-life painting and Baroque tenebrism, Raquel's work has a contemporary restraint. Her paintings are not overly embellished or sentimental; instead, they invite you to pause and consider the quiet presence of ordinary objects, held in balance and light.