Natasha Clarke is a Fine Artist and Muralist known for her distinctive portraits that celebrate Beauty, womanhood, and self-discovery.
Inspired by her mixed-heritage background, White British and Black Jamaican, Clarke brings these two cultural influences into dialogue within her practice, creating portraits that celebrate women of all ethnicities and challenge traditional representations of beauty.
blue skies
'Blue Skies', explores the intersection of Afro-Caribbean and British identity through the presence of two strong female figures. Positioned from a worm’s-eye view, the viewer looks up towards them, amplifying their strength, dignity, and sense of power. Behind them, a rich gradient of blue transitions into turquoise, echoing both open skies and the vibrant waters of the Caribbean. The fabric design is inspired by the work of Althea McNish, whose pioneering screen prints and journey to the UK during the Windrush era mark an important cultural legacy. This reference grounds the painting in a wider narrative of migration, creativity, and influence. The work also reflects on clothing and adornment as expressions of identity; how what we choose to wear can communicate self-respect, heritage, and aspiration. Bold, vibrant, and full of life, 'Blue Skies' is a celebration of contrast, connection, and dual heritage. A painting intended not just to be seen, but to sing.
Her.
‘Her.’ is a collection of nine oil portraits that explores beauty, autonomy, and the power of self-definition. Each painting depicts a woman turned away from the viewer, her identity intentionally obscured. This compositional choice challenges the long-standing tradition of the male gaze within art history, where women were often presented as muses or objects of admiration rather than autonomous individuals. By looking away, these women quietly reclaim their agency, refusing the expectation to be constantly seen, judged, or defined by others.
The portraits celebrate women of diverse ethnic backgrounds, expanding the narrative of beauty beyond the narrow ideals historically shaped by Western culture. Through luminous skin tones and carefully layered oils, each subject is honoured with dignity, strength, and presence.
Adorned with gold and intricate floral jewellery, the women in ‘Her.’ embody abundance, resilience, and the richness that life can offer when we choose our own path rather than conform to the limitations imposed upon us.
Across the canvases, a repeating floral motif appears, inspired by the work of William Morris and his philosophy of craft, beauty, and the importance of creating meaningful, well-made art. The pattern subtly forms an infinity symbol, referencing the eternal nature of the human spirit and the enduring search for identity, purpose, and belonging.
Together, these paintings invite the viewer into a space of contemplation—where beauty is not about perfection or approval, but about presence, autonomy, and the quiet power of being.
About me.
Art has been a core part of my life from an early age, from a working class background I was the first person in my family to be self-employed and working in the creative sector. I carved my own path.
I earned a 1st class honours degree in Fine Art and masters degree in Curation Practices. I am passionate about inclusivity in the arts and holding the door open for others.
Growing up as a mixed-heritage girl in a small Yorkshire mining village, I rarely saw women who looked like me represented in art or in the beauty standards around me. Like many women, I spent years trying to reshape myself to fit an ideal that was never designed to include me.
Through my paintings, I challenge those inherited narratives.
Using a combination of traditional and contemporary techniques, I paint women of all shades, celebrating diversity, presence, and quiet strength. Many of the women in my work turn away from the viewer or placed in a position of power through worms eye view. This is intentional.
For centuries, women in art were painted to be looked at — muses, symbols, objects of admiration. In my work, I play with perspective. These women are not performing for the viewer, they are not seeking approval.
They exist on their own terms.
Their beauty is not defined by the gaze of others, but by their own sense of self.
At its core, my work is about reclaiming beauty and celebrating my mixed heritage as a White British and Black Caribbean female artist.