Rydal Hanbury

Rydal, Fine Art BA (hons) gained a bursary place on The Drawing Year 2007/8 Royal Drawing School. 1st Prize HRP Tower of London 2008, her drawing was enlarged 75ft to protect the White Tower, during renovations. She completed the Portrait Diploma at Heatherleys School of Art, winning Portrait Prize & Composition Prize in 2017 and The Drawing Prize in 2018. She has taught drawing at the Royal Drawing School and Central Saint Martins.

From 2008, Rydal spent ten years drawing and painting around the Bank of England. From 7am, in all weathers, to catch ‘the narrative’ – the extraordinary sight of 250,000 commuters skilfully battling their way to the office. This spectacle post-COVID no longer exists.

She painted her neighbours portraits, and during COVID ran a lunchtime drawing class via Zoom for those working from home. Her experiences during the pandemic earning her the Classic FM best neighbour winner.

From 2022, she focused on the St Albans Charter Market. Taking a year to draw ‘every’ stall from east to west, learning every trader’s story. She is at present painting every stall west to east. This will provide the foundation for bigger paintings on-site and large mural paintings in the studio.