Holly Brown: Paintings, Shows and Courses

Holly Brown in a paint-spattered striped apron, leaning in the doorway of her wooden studio — Holly Brown. Photo courtesy of the artist. Cropped and framed by CoolCuration.

Last updated: 27 October 2026

Holly Brown is the Devon oil painter of still lifes, olive groves and harbours, who spent 15 years illustrating children’s picture books before turning to paint. Here you will find our take on her work, where she has shown, and how to learn from her.

Our take on Holly Brown

Brown trained in illustration and spent 15 years illustrating more than thirty children’s picture books, according to her own site. She taught herself oil painting after the birth of her first child.

Her subjects split two ways: plein air landscapes, including olive groves and harbours, and still lifes of jugs, lemons and pears made in the studio. Her site describes her working quickly, in response to “the imagery of both everyday life and landscapes enriched with reflection and light.”

Every original on her shop had sold when we checked. The way in for now is her £35 online still-life course.

Holly Brown: the essentials

British painter living and working in Devon, according to her own site.
Trained in illustration; illustrated more than thirty children’s picture books over a 15-year career.
Paints in oil, on board and canvas: still lifes in the studio and landscapes outdoors.
Runs one- and two-day oil painting courses in Devon, Dorset and Frome, plus an online course.

Holly Brown exhibitions

Life & Land, solo show, The Gallery at The Station, Frome, November 2022.
Colour (group), Highgate Contemporary Gallery, London, September 2022.
Howl: Resurrection of a Wild Woman (group), The Waterton Gallery, London, March 2022.
Simply Still, solo show, The Gallery at The Station, Frome, September 2021.
No new show has been announced.

Where to buy a Holly Brown painting

Every original on her shop was sold out when we checked; her paintings had been priced from £285 to £485. No prints are listed.

An Introduction to Oil Painting: Still Life with Holly Brown, £35: a 45-minute video course with a PDF guide and lifetime access, from her site.

Holly Brown FAQs

Where is Holly Brown based?

Devon. Her Somerset connection is Frome, where she has had two solo shows and teaches courses.

Can I buy a Holly Brown painting?

Not right now. Every original on her shop was sold out when we checked. New work appears there when it is ready.

Does Holly Brown teach?

Yes. She runs one- and two-day oil painting courses in Devon, Dorset and Frome, and sells a £35 online still-life course.

What did Holly Brown do before painting?

She illustrated more than thirty children’s picture books over 15 years.

Holly Brown