Ray West

Ray West is an international award-winning pastel pencil artist from Essex. He has always strived to create artworks that have detail and accuracy, and this has evolved into the hyper realism style that can now been seen in much of his work.

Ray originally spent his career in the banking and investment industries before reigniting his passion for art in 2020. Initially Ray focussed on commissions based on a wide variety of subject matter, subsequently taking special enjoyment from painting automotive subjects and other day to day moments of interest. Ray's paintings start much earlier than on his drawing board, he looks for reference opportunities whilst out and about and will take hundreds of photos hoping one will inspire that perfect picture. Recent inspiration comes from the automotive world, although Ray will look at things slightly differently, choosing to capture subjects through reflections rather than the more direct approach, or by focussing just as much on the detail of the location as the main subject itself.

Currently Ray is creating new bodies of original work that will refine and define his unique style.