Varsha Bhatia
Biography
Varsha Bhatia is an artist based in the UK, specialising in detailed architectural watercolours. She studied Architecture at Sir J. J. College of Architecture, University of Bombay, graduating with a B.Arch in 1978, and worked in architectural practices in Mumbai and Cambridge.
Her work has been exhibited extensively, including at the RI Annual Exhibition, the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, the Royal Society of British Artists and the Society of Women Artists. She has received the Frank Herring Easel Award at the RI Exhibition in 2002 and 2022, the Winsor & Newton Award at the SWA Exhibition in 2004, the Schmincke Award at the RI Exhibition in 2015 and the St Cuthbert’s Mill Award at the RWS Contemporary Watercolour Competition in 2016. Her work is held in collections including Gray’s Inn, London and Hertfordshire County Council.
Artist Statement
Trained and working as an architect, I use my architectural background to develop ideas for my paintings, focusing on architectural monuments and studying their details, styles and atmosphere. Having lived in India and the UK, my work encompasses both Indian and Western architecture.
I usually paint historical buildings, both exteriors and interiors, aiming to incorporate as much detail as possible. I begin with a visit to the site, studying and photographing the building from different angles. I then make a rough sketch to establish its scale and proportion before developing the final work.
I draw the building technically in pencil to achieve the correct proportions, then build up the detail in watercolour, painting bricks, stones and roof tiles individually. This can require four or five layers of paint, while shadows are gradually built up in several layers to give depth and atmosphere.
I sometimes incorporate my distinctive paper-cutting technique, developed from my earlier work with handmade greeting cards. The delicate cut paper creates a three-dimensional effect within the paintings. I also make architectural ink drawings.