Hey, I’m Lou.

Welcome to Loumencello!

I’m an Artist living in Wiltshire, with a passion for making beautiful things.

About me

A trip down memory lane…

I have always loved making things. I don’t remember the first time I picked up a pencil, or paintbrush, but I do remember always being busy with my hands, whether it was colouring, drawing, or recreating beloved ‘Art Attack’ Papier Mâché models. I was always glued to the TV when programmes like SMart came on with Mark Speight, and was fascinated with how people made art. I loved going to galleries and museums, and still do. To this day I still find paintings by artists like Holbein, Maclise, Renoir, and Sargent absolutely spellbinding.

My family have always been my biggest cheerleaders no matter what creative outlet I turned my hand to. Even though some of my family members are no longer with me, I know that they still would be cheering me on today.

I didn’t study art at university after leaving school, and instead forged a different path that took me away from painting for over a decade, and resulted in me working for the emergency services. In 2020, during a time which impacted so many people in so many different ways, I found myself picking up some art materials and finding myself again. I didn’t realise a part of me had been missing until I began to create.

So here we are…

I make art because I have to. It’s the only time my brain and heart is calm, where I can slip into the quiet timeless space of being in a state of flow. I work primarily in oil paints, however enjoy using all sorts of mediums from pencils to acrylics. I usually work small, and try to paint a new subject every day, with paintings at their largest being 10” X 10”.

I felt for a long time when I was making art that I wanted to show the fantastical, magical and heroic scenes that I would read about growing up. The ones where an unlikely hero would attempt to reclaim a mountain home from a dragon, where swashbuckling mice would defend their castles from dastardly rats, or where wardrobes would lead to a never ending winter.

But I soon realised that actually magic doesn’t just exist in fantasy books, but all around us in our day to day lives. The art I make is an attempt to capture the glorious everyday and love of the world we live in. From still life paintings and pets, to wildlife and the great outdoors, I want to share my love of life with you.