Phoebe Unwin

Overview
Phoebe Unwin (b. 1979, Cambridge, UK) is a British painter recognised for her distinctive approach to abstraction, merging memory, perception and everyday experience through a rich and layered visual language. Unwin studied at Newcastle University and the Slade School of Fine Art, London, where she now teaches as Associate Professor of Painting. Recent solo exhibitions include The Pointed Finger (Amanda Wilkinson Gallery, London, 2023), Iris (Towner Art Gallery, 2019) and Field (Collezione Maramotti, 2018). Group exhibitions include A Room Hung With Thoughts (Green Family Art Foundation, 2025), Wings of a Butterfly (Ingleby Gallery, 2025) and the Drawing Biennial 2024 (Drawing Room). Her work is held in major public and international collections, including Tate and the British Council Collection.
Works
  • Phoebe Unwin, A Bath Six Times Over, 2025
    A Bath Six Times Over, 2025
  • Phoebe Unwin, Stack, 2024
    Stack, 2024
  • Phoebe Unwin, Anorak Window, 2023
    Anorak Window, 2023
  • Phoebe Unwin, Area of Sun, 2023
    Area of Sun, 2023
  • Phoebe Unwin, Forefoot, 2023
    Forefoot, 2023
  • Phoebe Unwin, Half View, 2023
    Half View, 2023
  • Phoebe Unwin, Snow City, 2023
    Snow City, 2023
  • Phoebe Unwin, Butterfly, 2022
    Butterfly, 2022
  • Phoebe Unwin, Envelope, 2019
    Envelope, 2019
  • Phoebe Unwin, Hair, 2019
    Hair, 2019
  • Phoebe Unwin, Snow, 2019
    Snow, 2019
  • Phoebe Unwin, Exposure, 2018
    Exposure, 2018
  • Phoebe Unwin, Flowers from Outside, 2018
    Flowers from Outside, 2018
  • Phoebe Unwin, Machine in the Garden, 2018
    Machine in the Garden, 2018
  • Phoebe Unwin, Silver, 2018
    Silver, 2018
  • Phoebe Unwin, Sunstretch, 2018
    Sunstretch, 2018
  • Phoebe Unwin, Approach, 2017
    Approach, 2017
  • Phoebe Unwin, Balcony, 2017
    Balcony, 2017
  • Phoebe Unwin, High Window, 2016
    High Window, 2016
  • Phoebe Unwin, Private Head, 2016
    Private Head, 2016
  • Phoebe Unwin, Distant Person, 2014
    Distant Person, 2014
  • Phoebe Unwin, Concrete Ball, 2012
    Concrete Ball, 2012
  • Phoebe Unwin, Head of Leaves, 2012
    Head of Leaves, 2012
  • Phoebe Unwin, Sleeper, 2012
    Sleeper, 2012
  • Phoebe Unwin, Milk, 2011
    Milk, 2011
  • Phoebe Unwin, Cinema, 2010
    Cinema, 2010
  • Phoebe Unwin, Clay Head, 2010
    Clay Head, 2010
  • Phoebe Unwin, Garden, 2010
    Garden, 2010
  • Phoebe Unwin, Man with Heavy Limbs, 2009
    Man with Heavy Limbs, 2009
  • Phoebe Unwin, Aeroplane Meal, 2008
    Aeroplane Meal, 2008
  • Phoebe Unwin, Beach Portrait, 2008
    Beach Portrait, 2008
  • Phoebe Unwin, Desk, 2008
    Desk, 2008
  • Phoebe Unwin, Hair from Behind, 2008
    Hair from Behind, 2008
  • Phoebe Unwin, Silver Shower, 2008
    Silver Shower, 2008
CV

Phoebe Unwin (b. 1979, Cambridge, UK) is a British painter recognised for her distinctive approach to abstraction, merging memory, perception and everyday experience through a rich visual language. Unwin studied at Newcastle University and the Slade School of Fine Art, London. She received the Philip Leverhulme Prize in 2012 and was shortlisted for the Max Mara Art Prize for Women in 2016. She is currently an Associate Professor of Painting at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London.


She has exhibited widely in the UK and internationally. Recent solo exhibitions include The Pointed Finger (Amanda Wilkinson Gallery, London, 2023), Osmosis (Amanda Wilkinson Gallery, London, 2020), Iris (Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, 2019) and Field (Collezione Maramotti, Reggio Emilia, Italy, 2018). Recent group exhibitions include A Room Hung With Thoughts: British Painting Now (Green Family Art Foundation, Dallas, 2025); Wings of a Butterfly (Ingleby Gallery, Edinburgh, 2025); and the Drawing Biennial 2024 (Drawing Room, London, 2024).


Unwin’s work is held in major public collections, including Tate, the Government Art Collection, the Arts Council Collection and the British Council Collection, as well as international institutions such as the Maramotti Collection (Italy), Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (Rotterdam) and Yale Center for British Art (USA).