Last Updated on May 5, 2025 by Karis Tavernier-Nicholas

Tuesday Riddell is an artist I’ve followed on Instagram for many years, and recently I had the pleasure of visiting her solo exhibition at London’s Messums Gallery. Through the Brambles features themes fans of Riddell’s work will already be familiar with. Often whimsical in nature, Riddell’s art always feels like taking a step inside an enchanted forest, where the magic of the natural world is on full display, whether that’s the glow of moths in the darkened forest or four pairs of glowing eyes peering back out at you.

Having completed the Painters-Stainers Decorative Surface Fellowship at City and Guilds Art School, Riddell uses the technique of japanning in her work, a 17th century European version of Asian lacquer work, an endangered craft. In many ways, Riddell’s use of japanning walks hand in hand with her visual storytelling.

We see intricate details of the forest floor, such as the golden flora and fauna. In addition to lacquer, Riddell uses materials such as gold and silver leaf as well as mother of pearl when adding the painstaking details to her work.

As well as Beatrix Potter, Riddell finds inspiration in the work of the writer Angela Carter, and in many ways this is evident. Much of her art is reminiscent of a dark fairy tale; Riddell’s work is enchanting and fantastical in nature, finding us engaging with characters from the natural world, although there lurks an undercurrent of ambiguous darkness, much like Carter’s The Bloody Chamber.

Follow Tuesday Riddell on Instagram: @tuesdayriddell