Oenone Hammersley is an artist whose work is deeply connected to the natural world. Recognized for her rainforest and wildlife paintings, Hammersley’s art reflects a lifelong fascination with nature, landscapes, and wildlife. Her pieces evoke a sense of wonder while addressing the pressing environmental issues of our time, blending realism with abstract forms to express the fragility of the world we live in.
Hammersley has been exhibiting her work since 1980, with shows in the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Australia. Her artistic journey has taken her across the globe, and these experiences are reflected in her wide range of subjects and techniques. For three years, she lived in Tanzania, where she immersed herself in the landscape and wildlife of Africa, creating vivid depictions of the region’s rich fauna. Her deep connection to nature is a consistent theme, and the African wildlife paintings from this period are a testament to her observational skills and her ability to capture the essence of the animals in their natural habitats. In Greece, her artistic focus shifted towards mythological figures, and she began incorporating them into her work, illustrating the timeless stories through oil on canvas and watercolors. The vibrant energy of Greek mythology complemented her style, and her use of color and form became even more pronounced.
One of her latest works, Ring of Fire 2, is a visually arresting piece that pays homage to the raw, untamed beauty of volcanic landscapes. This painting captures the intensity and movement of a lava flow, as if seen from above, with swirling currents of molten earth and fiery reds intermixed with the cool blues of water. Hammersley’s piece is both an exploration of color and a narrative about nature’s power, suggesting that even destructive forces can hold a beauty all their own.
The painting’s title, Ring of Fire 2, hints at a sequence, suggesting that this work is part of an ongoing study of volcanic landscapes or geological phenomena. The “Ring of Fire” is a well-known geographic area where the Pacific tectonic plates are in constant motion, resulting in volcanic eruptions and earthquakes around the Pacific Ocean. By evoking this famous natural zone, Hammersley grounds her painting in a real, dynamic area of the Earth, inviting viewers to consider the larger context of nature’s forces.
In Ring of Fire 2, Hammersley takes viewers on a visual journey across churning, semi-abstract compositions. Her color choices are bold, with deep reds and fiery oranges that replicate the heat of lava, contrasted by the cooling blues and hints of white that resemble clouds of ash or steam rising from the hot ground. This fusion of color brings a sense of movement and transformation to the canvas, as if viewers are witnessing a volcanic eruption in progress.
Hammersley’s technique in this work combines elements of realism with abstraction, giving the piece an impressionistic quality that balances detailed depiction with a broader, almost dreamlike representation. The viewer might feel both the enormity and the ephemerality of these natural processes. Her brushstrokes convey energy, suggesting the rapid pace at which lava flows and water cools, yet she also seems to freeze a single moment within this movement, offering a snapshot of nature’s dramatic cycle.
The interplay between fire and water is central to the painting, showcasing Hammersley’s fascination with contrasting elements. These are forces that would typically oppose each other, yet here, they coexist within the same canvas, symbolizing nature’s resilience and harmony. The fire and water in Ring of Fire 2 are not fighting for dominance but rather merging and interacting, symbolizing the paradox of destruction and creation that characterizes volcanic activity. This concept resonates with many of her works, where nature’s beauty is interwoven with its inherent volatility.
Ring of Fire 2 also reflects Hammersley’s environmental sensibilities. Through her work, she addresses the awe-inspiring aspects of natural forces, subtly reminding viewers of the delicate balance that allows us to coexist with these elements. She often emphasizes the power and unpredictability of the earth, presenting it as something that commands respect and care. In this sense, Ring of Fire 2 becomes more than a visual exploration of a volcano; it’s a call to recognize the magnificence of our planet’s most dynamic systems and to consider the environmental impact of human activity on these ancient forces.
Oenone Hammersley’s painting of fire and water will be on display at Art Miami, Context 3rd to 8th December 2025. For more information please visit: https://www.oenonehammersley.com
