Cara Roberts | May 2026, Member of the Month

An Interview with Cara Roberts: Best New & Emerging Artist – VAA Artist of the Year 2025 and May Member of the Month

Cara Roberts – Artist Feature – VAA Member of the Month May 2026

Cara Roberts is a London-based visual artist whose practice focuses on hyperrealistic portraiture, exploring the human face as a site of identity, emotion, and social perception. Cara grew up in Garstang, a small market town in North West England. From a young age, she discovered her passion for art and creating, which quickly became her primary source for not only understanding herself, but the world around her. When she turned 18, this passion took her to London, where she began a foundation course in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins – broadening her horizons to a wide range of artistic disciplines and opportunities. After gaining the required experience, she then completed a BA in Graphic Communication Design, learning how to infuse meaning and emotion into everything she created. Unfortunately, by the time Cara graduated, the world had changed dramatically. The pandemic had commenced and uncertainty was everywhere, but her art remained a steady anchor. She leaned into it, spending a year with an art agency in Manhattan, focusing entirely on creativity and expression while navigating such an unpredictable time.

Eventually, she realised she wanted more structure – something that could ground her while she continued to grow. This led her to a role at Jellyfish, a global marketing agency in London Bridge, where she started as an App Store Optimisation designer. Following the acquisition of Jellyfish by BrandTech, her work shifted toward Artificial Intelligence, and she discovered a new form of creativity there as well. Today, Cara finds herself in a delicate balance between two worlds: creating hyperrealistic portrait paintings and exploring the possibilities of AI.

Although Cara’s days are fairly structured, each day promises variation. Training is the first thing she does before dedicating herself to her 9 to 5, and afterward, catching up on art projects or administrative tasks. She typically reserves creating artwork for the weekend, particularly in the dark winter months, where she can fully immerse herself in filming the creative process without any rush.

Cara’s work aims to showcase that every face carries a narrative worth seeing, valuing, and understanding. Through hyper realistic portraiture, she explores the human face not only as a likeness, but as a vessel for identity, emotion, and social perception. Living with vitiligo, she uses her own experience of visible difference as a lens to examine how beauty standards are constructed and how they can be challenged. Her aim is to show that uniqueness is not something to hide, but a source of strength, power, and beauty. Cara’s portraits are both personal and political: they invite the viewer to look closer, to question their assumptions, and to recognise the depth, dignity, and complexity within every face. Working primarily in watercolour, she highlights the subtle textures, tonal shifts, and emotional layers that make each person distinct. Ultimately, her work aims to shift perception. It calls for a broader, more inclusive understanding of beauty, empowers underrepresented identities, and contributes to a cultural evolution in how we see ourselves and one another.

To learn more about her work, visit: cararoberts.co.uk

And follow her Instagram: @cararobertsart

The creative journey begins with finding inspiration – whether it’s something that catches my eye on Pinterest, a skincare or makeup advert, or a face, gaze, or emotion that lingers in my mind. I’m constantly, often subconsciously, discovering new subjects and people who spark the desire to capture them in a painting. In terms of the creative process, I start with a sketch, mapping proportions and key features. Watercolour washes follow, building layer upon layer, balancing light, shadow and subtle nuances of skin and texture. Each stroke is intentional, yet embraces the fluid unpredictability of the medium. I often pause, observe, refine, and adjust, until the portrait achieves both precision and life. The final piece is a harmony of realism and expression, capturing not just my interpretation of likeness but the essence and soul of the subject.

I try to keep a genuinely positive outlook, even when things are challenging – I hold onto the belief that the glass is still half full. I’d like to think my work gently influences how people see the world and bring a bit more warmth and understanding into it. I’ve learnt that patience and consistent effort really does matter, and spending the time shaping detailed pieces feels worthwhile, when I imagine someone enjoying them in the future. Most of all, I’m learning to appreciate the present and believe in myself, holding onto the idea that the time to be happy is now, and I hope that spirit quietly shines through in my art.

What is your creative process? What outlook guides you?

What is your definition of artistic success?

For me, artistic success can be understood in two distinct ways.

First, there is the experience of creating itself, the sense of peace and clarity that comes from immersing myself in the process. With a fast-paced 9-5 and a life that often feels like it’s moving at 100 miles an hour, carving out time to paint becomes both grounding and energising. It gives me a sense of control over my own time and offers a much-needed outlet for expression.

Secondly, success lies in the thrill of possibility. Each brushstroke carries the potential to become something greater – perhaps a piece that might someday appear on a billboard or hang in a gallery. That sense of the unknown, of not quite knowing where a work might lead, is deeply motivating. Together, these two feelings – the calm of creation and the excitement of possibility, define what artistic success means to me.

Reflecting on my career to date, I feel grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. My practice has been showcased on both national and international platforms – from Flannels on Oxford Street and the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, to Times Square in New York, along with a range of esteemed venues worldwide. I was also honoured to receive the Best Emerging Artist award, which felt like a meaningful milestone in my journey.

Over the past 12 months, I have prioritised quality over quantity, finding a balance between creating, enjoying, and exhibiting my work. Highlights for me have ranged between showcasing my art in the London Underground at Canada Water Station to exhibiting at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in London, both of which have been significant milestones. The opportunity to share my artwork with thousands of people every day has been an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience.

What are some of the accomplishments you are most proud of? What are some of the highlights from the past 15 months?

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

Draw what you see, not what you know. What you see pushes you to observe carefully – shapes, angles, shadows, and subtleties, just to keep looking. Not what you know, warns against relying on assumptions or memory of how a nose looks or how eyes are shaped. I try to keep my portraits honest, fresh, and true to the individual in front of you.

What Career Goal is your current priority? How has the VAA helped your journey so far?

In a broad sense, my life is divided into three core areas: my full-time job, my practice as a portrait artist, and my commitment to fitness. Each one brings a unique sense of fulfilment and contributes to the rhythm and structure of my days. While I may give more attention to one area over another at times, I ultimately view them as equally important components of my life. In terms of my current priorities, I’m eager to explore the next stages of my artistic journey. The larger the exhibition, the more exciting the challenge. I want to share my work with a broader audience – showing in new countries, but also maintaining a strong presence here in London, where there is an incredible range of art events and opportunities. I’m also interested in discovering new and innovative ways to showcase my artwork, pushing beyond traditional formats and expanding the reach of what I create.

So far, attending a few VAA talks has given me a strong sense of belonging within a community of like-minded creatives. I’ve felt genuinely immersed in a supportive and inspiring creative space, which has been incredibly motivating. Over the coming year, I hope to delve deeper into their knowledge of the art industry, explore specific galleries I’m interested in, and continue developing my capabilities – taking each opportunity in my stride as I grow as an artist. 

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

I think I would say: remind yourself that this is what brings you true happiness. Painting has always given me a sense of clarity and calm amid life’s constant motion – a feeling I’ve learned to treasure. It has been a constant throughout my life, a personal safe space. And having the opportunity to share this with the world has been truly incredible.