About Isabel Knowland

All my life I have worked as a professional violinist, but always with a passion for art. In later years I realised that this passion had to be developed and given a chance to flourish so I took a degree in Fine Art, graduating with a First Class Honours from de Montford University.

As well as exhibiting locally and nationally I have been able to combine my music and art in community projects, which are very important to me.

I take my inspiration often from music and from poetry, and also from my long-held pacifist beliefs. There are recurring themes: war and peace, fragility, memory, and the importance of recognising the gift of humanity and of our planet. I find that many of the concerns in making visual art are similar to those of playing music; namely rhythm, texture, colour and form.

Collaboration is an important aspect of my practice, and I am lucky to have worked with a number of artists who have been a source of nourishment and stimulation: