Artists directory

Octavia

Hands

Octavia Hands is a fine artist and painter who is drawn to vibrant, light-filled spaces. She is interested in the memory of a the physical characteristics of a space and the way this can be altered by the memory of being there. Most often, Octavia paints greenhouses and botanical spaces, as her memories of visiting them feel especially lucid, perhaps due to the clarity of light and oxygenated atmosphere. By building layers and washes of colour gradually, she explores the potential for contrasting hues to convey a sense of space and temperature.

Disciplines: Painting

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Materials: Acrylic, Oil, Paper
Octavia Hands is a fine artist and painter who is drawn to vibrant, light-filled spaces. She is interested in the memory of a the physical characteristics of a space and the way this can be altered by the memory of being there. Most often, Octavia paints greenhouses and botanical spaces, as her memories of visiting them feel especially lucid, perhaps due to the clarity of light and oxygenated atmosphere. By building layers and washes of colour gradually, she explores the potential for contrasting hues to convey a sense of space and temperature.

Previous Experience

BA (hons) Newcastle University 2020-2024. April 2026 – Shortlisted for RISE emerging artist award by Henley festival. June 2025 – works exhibited in BS9 arts trail. April 2025 – Shortlisted for RISE emerging artist award by Henley festival. 2024 – work exhibited in BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, group show. 2024 – work exhibited in Fraternising with the Enemy, Bottleworks, Newcastle upon Tyne, group show. 2024 – work exhibited in With and Without you, Art Spot Korin, Kyoto, group show. 2024 – Solo show Revalued, at Shieldfield artworks, Newcastle upon Tyne.

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