Welcome to Arabella Yapp’s art gallery.
I am a Contemporary artist from South East London, I studied fine art at Goldsmiths and Middlesex Universities. Alongside painting I worked as a teacher for many years specialising as an inclusion manager in London schools.
I am fascinated with the connection between the abstract qualities of shimmering light and iridescence and capturing how light falls on different surfaces. One of my earliest memories is feeling ecstatic when given metallic powder paint at Nursery school and using it to paint Princesses.
I paint using acrylics, sometimes incorporating metallic paints and coloured metallic leaf. I use vibrant jewel- like colours, focussing on creating impact and bright light by juxtaposing saturated contrasting colours, to make them “sing” and vibrate against each other.
I have a keen interest in portraiture and focus on painting people and places that I love and experiences that bring me joy. I use painting like a visual gratitude diary to focus on things that make me happy. I live and work in a diverse, inner city setting and this inclusive life experience is a reflected in my heavily autobiographical work. I like to investigate the choreography of relationships and the social harmony amongst people from diverse backgrounds in the world in which I live and work.
My most frequent subjects are my children, family and close friends. Swimming and water are frequent themes in my work symbolising family fun and happiness. As an obsessionally ardent swimmer I share this love of water with my parents, siblings and my own children who feature swimming and diving in many of my paintings. I love to capture the human body in movement such as when dancing or diving.
In 2025 I had my first solo exhibition at the Brixton Tate Gallery. This was a career high point for me and the success of this show has boosted my confidence as an artist. A video of this show entitled “Chasing Joy” is available on this website www.arabellayappart.com
ENQUIRIES and SALES
If you want to contact me for any reason please message using the contact form at the top of this page or DM me on https://www.instagram.com/arabellayapppaintings.
I am happy to discuss and quote for commissions, prices starting at £100 for a small, straight forward portrait.
I can complete a small portrait of anyone and then photograph it and digitally add it to any of my paintings to create bespoke prints , see print costs below. Please contact me to discuss this and get a quote.
PRINTS
All prints are limited edition of 100 and are signed, high quality giclee prints.
A3 Prints £40
A2 Prints £60
A1 Prints £90
All prints and paintings can be packaged and posted to you on request.
