Rachel Hutchison is a Scottish visual artist working primarily in painting and drawing. Her practice explores the emotional experience of change, grief, and longing through expressive, figurative imagery and theatrical motifs. Often drawing from personal life, particularly moments of rupture, her work transforms inner chaos into visual metaphor, giving physicality to the unseen. With a background in participatory art and community engagement, Rachel sees creativity not only as a tool for self-expression but as a way to connect with others. Her work aims to hold space for complex emotion while inviting others to reflect on their own. Through each of her projects, she advocates for art as a space of shared vulnerability and healing.

Rachel is a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art (2022) and a British Council Venice Fellow (2024). She is currently developing her first solo exhibition, ‘Have you seen my marbles’ to debut in the winter, and founding a cross-border exchange initiative Auld Atelier, to connect artists across Scotland and continental Europe through civic town twinning.

See Rachel’s work as part of our annual Summer open call, Something in the Mirage, which runs July 17th to August 8th, featuring an incredible collection of works by twenty nine artists inspired by the dreamlike shimmering of summer sunshine, heat hazes, lingering afterimages, or maybe the momentary glint of something half-seen and half-imagined in the dappled golden light.

Hi Rachel, thanks for being with us! Can you tell us about how you arrived at the theme of your work?
My work often begins with emotion before image. ‘Is it hot in here, or is it just me?‘, for example, came out of a period of personal upheaval where I felt emotionally untethered. The title plays on the idea questioning if an emotional experience is shared or if you’re the only one feeling it. It reflects the experience of overwhelm, fragmented reality, and my desire to visualise those internal states. I’m interested in how painting can hold the softness of grief, the absurdity of love, and the strange beauty in vulnerability.

What emotions or reactions do you hope viewers experience when they see your artwork?
I hope people feel both seen and safe in front of the work. My paintings often deal with things we’re not always encouraged to talk about – loss, mental health, messy feelings – and I want to create space for those conversations. I like when people laugh a little too, or feel unsettled in a good way. Mostly, I want the work to remind people that they’re not alone in how they feel.

Can you walk us through your creative process?
My process usually begins with an emotional impulse, something I’m feeling but haven’t yet verbalised. I’ll often start sketching loosely in my journal, writing fragments, or collecting reference images that feel tonally connected. From there, I begin painting intuitively, allowing colour and form to lead before refining anything. I rarely plan a painting in full, there’s always room for surprise or shift. Often, I find out what a work is about halfway through making it.

How do you know when a piece is complete?
It’s usually a gut feeling. There’s a point where the painting stops asking questions and starts answering them. Or when I feel like I’m no longer contributing but just decorating. I sometimes let a work sit for a few days before deciding, it needs to feel emotionally resolved, even if it’s not polished. Some of my favourite pieces are slightly raw or unresolved; they feel alive that way.

Is there anything else you would like people to know about your work or your experiences as an artist?
Yes, I’m really passionate about demystifying the role of the artist. I don’t believe in the myth of the reclusive genius. I think creativity is something shared, something social, and I try to build that into my practice. Whether through workshops, community projects, or simply being visible as a working artist, I want to show that art is for everyone, not just to look at, but to make, feel, and live with.

And finally, will your next project be a continuation of your current style or are you experimenting with something different? Can you share a glimpse of your next project?
Alongside my painting practice, I’m developing my first artistic facilitation project called Auld Atelier. This is the avenue I’d love my career to expand into and this project is born from my frustration at the lack of early-career opportunities and the cultural imbalances across the UK. The project is rooted in civic twinned towns like Dalkeith, Scotland (my home town) and Jarnac, France. It creates international residencies and public platforms that prove creative careers can thrive locally. It’s also a response to Brexit, which severed ties with European neighbours just a short flight away. I believe in art as a bridge, connecting people, expanding world views, and reminding us of our shared humanity. Auld Atelier is about building those bridges from the ground up.

Find out more about Rachel’s work on her website or Instagram. Something in the Mirage runs at Six Foot Gallery until Friday 8th August 2025.