About
Thelma Speirs (b. Cambridge, 1959) is a UK-based artist who works across painting, drawing, printmaking, and installation. She studied at Cambridge Technical College, where she completed an Art Foundation course, and later went on to earn a BA in Fashion and Textile Design from Middlesex University in London.
Her work is inspired by close observation of everyday life. She draws on objects, images, and moments she notices and collects, exploring the space between reality and imagination.
In 2023, she co-founded Out of Fashion with Paul Bernstock, a group exhibition platform that brings together artists with backgrounds in fashion to show work in a contemporary art setting.
Her work has been shown across the UK, including Night Walks at Liminal Gallery Cupboard Space in Margate, Birds and Bags at the Nayland Rock Hotel in Margate, Out of Fashion at Gallery 46 in London and Solo Shows at Projects Kavel Rafferty (Margate) and Ally Capellino (London).
Alongside her art practice, Speirs is also co-founder and designer of the fashion label Bernstock Speirs, which she started with Paul Bernstock in 1982.
Artist Statement
My work explores playful, two-dimensional images of things that fascinate me or spark my curiosity. I'm interested in observing and recording the world around me, often mixing what I see with elements of imagination and fantasy.
Much of my work is small and intimate, though I also enjoy working on a larger scale, including window installations in Margate and London.
I use a variety of materials and techniques, including acrylic paint, pencil, felt, and etching, choosing what feels right for each piece.
At its core, I simply love making images — creating work feels instinctive and physical, a bit like dancing.