Susan Ashworth is a British artist known for her distinctive still-life oil paintings. Born on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, she graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Falmouth School of Art and Design in 1991 and now lives and works in the Sussex harbour town of Newhaven.

Inspired by painters on both sides of the Atlantic, particularly the Bay Area Figurative Movement, Susan brings a contemporary sensibility to the centuries-old tradition of still life. Her paintings often feature plants, vessels, food and other familiar objects gathered from her home, garden and surroundings.

Each work begins through a process of sketching, collage and photography. Susan uses digital tools to explore composition, light and contrast before translating the image into oil paint on board. This combination of modern and traditional techniques allows her to investigate the relationship between the painted surface and the illusion of space.

Having spent much of her life in well-used coastal places shaped by industry, Susan is continually drawn to changing light, open space and the edges between land and sea. These surroundings have had a lasting influence on her work, particularly her interest in objects emerging briefly from shadow.

Susan began painting in oils at the age of thirteen, encouraged by her school teacher and artist Richard Pikesley. After working in a predominantly abstract style during her student years and as a member of the Brighton Phoenix Co-operative, her practice gradually became more representational. This development led to her continuing focus on still life.

Through her work, Susan seeks to capture the moment at which an object appears, creating contemplative paintings that encourage the viewer to look again at ordinary things. Her work has been exhibited throughout the UK and internationally.