Dawn Fincham | September 2026, Member of the Month

An Interview with Dawn Fincham: Highly Commended Artist – VAA Artist of the Year 2025 and September Member of the Month

Dawn Fincham – Artist Feature – VAA Member of the Month September 2026

Dawn Fincham, is a multidisciplinary visual artist, who graduated with a Fine Art Degree from the Southamptom Institute. Finding it hard to make a living from her fine art straight out of college, she sought out other creative directions, and taught herself the Adobe Creative Packages, landing a job as a junior Graphic Designer. Whilst she is still a graphic designer, her title is now Senior.

She has kept her artwork going throughout her full time job and in her late 20s organised and took part in over 30 exhibitions of contemporary art and was included in the Association of Illustrators publications. Her life changed in her 30s as she started her family and her time became devoted to them.

Whilst getting married, Dawn created some portraitsfor the wedding venue with the intention they were going to line to ceremony room and be the voyeurs and additional guests at the wedding. Her paintings had such a positive response and she sold most of them – this spurred her onto the journey she is on today.

Dawn’s Monday to Friday is typical of a 9-5 with kids, working on her artwork if she has time. Whereas weekends – depending on what is in the diary – she squeezes in artwork where she can. If she has a deadline, the headphones go on and she locks in to finish her creation.

All Dawn’s artwork is about storytelling – she morphs vintage engravings with digital graphics, photographs and drawings to illustrate her interpretation of the world around us – she sources these from many places including old engraving books and lucky finds from charity shops over the year.

The characters that she chooses are the ones she feels drawn to, they exude a really cool attitude and she loves taking the images from one context and completely changing them to create her own world.

She uses layering techniques to create compositions and scenes on her Mac like a digital collage, then gets the art printed onto canvas and directly works into them, drawing over images, adding paint, using different mediums, ink, glitter – whatever she think will work to get the desired image she is after.

Dawn’s artwork is usually busy with hidden images and layers. She hopes the work will inspire the viewer to look and look again by building narrative through layers and encourage them to gain a different perspective each time. The use of strong characters and compact surreal landscapes that populate her artwork alongside vivid colour palettes to obscure the work’s hidden meanings.

For more about Dawn’s work, head to her website: Dawn Fincham Studio

Or follow her on Instagram: @dawn.fincham

A strong main character in my work is essential – I sift through 100’s and 100’s photos and stock images to find the right model. Most times this is the place I start. To have a character I am drawn to that exudes attitude is so important to me.

At the bottom of most pieces of art I create a scene, like a little diorama. I imagine that this area tells the story of the main character in some way, either directly or implied. Music is also another big inspiration, sometimes I’ll listen to a certain song I like, read the lyrics and they prompt a visual story that I want to create. My life and the world around me also affects how I use and choose these images I find, consciously and subconsciously.

Once I have an idea of my story I’d like to tell I start searching for other images that will bring it together. I’ll mix hand drawn images, photographs, old pictures from magazines, stock images and engravings. I scan in these images, then use layering techniques to create compositions and scenes on my Mac like a digital collage. I love taking all these found images from one context and completely changing them and creating my own world.

I get the art printed onto canvas and then directly work into them, drawing over images, adding paint, using different mediums, ink, varnish, glitter – whatever works to get the desired image I’m after. Sometimes the original image can change dramatically.

I love both stages of the process. The beginning, the ideas phase where anything can happen truly excites me, which way down the rabbit hole will I go! I love the fact that I can use my design skills to source and create anything that’s in my head. In the past I felt slightly held back by just using my painting skills to get the vision I wanted.

I love the final stage of the artwork, once the image is printed onto the canvas it’s my opportunity to get hands on, no Apple Z button to press or save as a version 2. The canvas takes on a new persona once it goes on to the next level of treatment. I work in so many ways, sometimes I will have the canvas resting against the wall but most times I work from above, with the canvas laid flat on the floor or table. I find that my work takes on a different energy, it’s more fluid and organic. Like stepping in to an arena.

Combining the two techniques has opened up my world and unleashed so many possibilities. I am so pleased that I have found a way that works for me. Exciting times!

My art is an ongoing conversation with myself which unfurls and develops. Each step, each painting I learn something new. I am very grateful to have found something that keeps me dreaming and wanting to progress. I say to myself ‘keep facing forward’ – this is my outlook on life and art.

What is your creative process? What outlook guides you?

What is your definition of artistic success?

I love the fact that I can use my design skills to source and create anything that’s in my head. In the past I have felt slightly held back by just using my painting skills to get the vision that I want. Combining the two techniques has opened up my world and unleashed so many possibilities. I think authenticity and staying true to one’s own voice and finding what works for you is the most important thing.

Finally finding a process that works for me. By combining my graphic design skills and art together. In the past I always saw them as having separate purposes. But now, merging them together has opened my world and helped me visualise what’s in my head and make it a reality.

I’m very grateful to have achieved the VAA Commended Artist award for the Emerging artist section 2025 – such an honour. I’m very proud to promote the award at the shows I’ve been exhibiting at.

I have made so many valuable and inspiring connections over the last year from amazingly talented artists, agents, galleries, collectors, printers, framers and publications. It has been an exciting and educational journey.

I’ve just finished a commission for a collector in Ireland, it’s a very involved and detailed piece based on the romantic and tragic story of Hero & Leander.

Finished 3 other commissions last year.

I have taken part in the 2 London “Other Art Fairs”, March 2025 and October 2025

I was invited to join the Artisan Collective – an invite-only network of British creators, connecting designers and commercial clients.

I’ve been accepted to take part in the Flux exhibition September 2026

Other exhibitions include…

Canfas Gallery, Cardigan, Wales – Upcoming March 2026 – GROUP SHOW

Thresholds – DNA. Art House, Berlin – January 2026 GROUP SHOW

Bretz, Kings Road, Chelsea – January 2026 GROUP SHOW

Cold Hand, Hot Art – Espacio Gallery, London – January 2026 GROUP SHOW

Miami Art Week, Basel – December 2025 GROUP SHOW

Borderless Exhibition – City Road, London – December 2025 GROUP SHOW

The Other Art Fair, The Truman Brewery, Brick Lane – October 2025 GROUP SHOW

Preludium Baby, Gallery 46, Whitechapel – August 2025 GROUP SHOW

Urban Scream, Graffik Gallery, Portobello Road, London – June 2025 GROUP SHOW

Gallery 17, Beckenham, London – May 2025 SOLO SHOW

Emerging Exhibition, XYZ, Gray’s Inn Road, Farringdon – April 2025 GROUP SHOW

The Other Art Fair, The Truman Brewery, Brick Lane – March 2025 GROUP SHOW

What are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of? What are some of the highlights from the past 12 months?

What’s the one piece of advice that has helped you the most?

Stay true to yourself, keep doing what you love and the rest will follow…

Time is my greatest obstacle. I find juggling my full time day job and family responsibilities alongside my artwork challenging. I try to manage my time effectively but it always feels like it’s such a big squeeze to fit it all in.

I think setting myself realistic goals each week and learning to say ‘no’ to projects or activities that don’t align with my goals would be a good place to start making healthy changes.

What do you find hardest about improving your arts profession? What are your current obstacles?

What career goal is your current priority? How has the VAA helped your journey so far?

To make a living from my artwork full time, to have sustainability. Being awarded “Highly Commended Artist” in the VAA Artist of the Year Emerging Artist section was such an amazing privilege. I am truly grateful. I displayed the achievement on my stand at the “Other Art Fair October 2025” in London. It drew a lot of attention from visitors and collectors and opened up many conversations that led to sales and other exciting opportunities.

Keep going, good things are coming!!

Is there anything you would like to say to the artist you were a year ago?