Artist Spotlight - Barbara Derecka
Biography
Barbara Derecka is a contemporary visual artist originally from Poland, now based in Cheshire, England. Working across acrylic, oil, watercolor, and mixed media, her practice is distinguished by its vivid colour, expressive form, and emotional depth. Her artistic vocabulary spans acrylic, oil, watercolor, and mixed media, allowing for fluidity in texture, depth, and colour intensity.
He & She, 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 100 x 100 cm.
Among her recurring subjects are human connection and identity, the beauty and mystery of submerged or natural environments, the passage of time, and the pressing need to honour and preserve the natural world. Her paintings often offer a dialogue between the viewer’s internal emotional landscape and the external world.
Immersed, 2024. Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 90 cm.
Barbara has exhibited widely in the UK, including galleries, art fairs and regional art events. Her work has been shown in settings such as The Everyman Playhouse in Liverpool, The Castle Art Gallery in Frodsham, galleries in Warrington, dot.art in Liverpool and during art weeks in Bury. She has also participated in art fairs including the Morecambe Art Fair and Rochester Art Fair.
Inspired by Hong Kong, 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 90 cm.
Artist Statement
In my work I explore the complexity of human experience, capturing both strength and fragility, the seen and unseen moments. Central themes in my art include femininity, nature (particularly underwater worlds), and a deep concern for environmental protection.
Between the worlds, 2025, Acrylic on canvas, 61 x 61 cm.
Through layering colour, texture, and gesture, I seek to evoke fleeting moments in time that invite reflection and connection. I see colour as a language, one through which strength, vulnerability, environmental care, and fleeting beauty are communicated.
Audrey Hepburn, 2025, Acrylic on canvas, 61 x 61 cm.
My Polish roots, combined with my experiences living in England, inform my sense of place, identity, and belonging. Nature, especially underwater life, is a recurring visual metaphor in my work, underscoring themes of transformation, depth, and fragility.
https://www.barbaraderecka-art.com/
https://www.instagram.com/barbaraderecka_art/
Crosby Beach, 2025, Acrylic on canvas, 61 x 48 cm.
Freedom, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 100 cm.
My Frida, 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 100 cm.
Sightseeing, 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 113 x 83 cm.
Where is the hope? 2025. Oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cm.
Underwater, 2020. Acrylic on canvas, 90 x 90 cm.
The Crowd, 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 100 cm.
Golden Hour, 2022. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 100 cm.
The Soul, 2022. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 100 cm.
Asian Vibes, 2023. Acrylic on canvas, 150 x 100 cm.
