In the heart of Rugby is the Lorimer Gallery. Known for its carefully curated exhibitions and its commitment to showcasing diverse styles and disciplines, the gallery has become a destination for collectors and art lovers seeking work that combines technical excellence with emotional resonance.
Whether you are a collector or simply love browsing different art styles, here are five artists you should watch out for in 2026.
1. Anna Lorimer
With a creative journey that began on the stage, Anna Lorimer brings a performer’s sensitivity and emotional intelligence to her painting practice. Having trained at the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School and performed in theatre, television, and even a season of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats, Anna’s early career was rooted in storytelling.
Her transition into visual art led her to complete a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Winchester School of Art, where her intuitive approach to composition began to take shape. Now known for her richly textured mixed-media paintings, Anna builds her canvases through layered collage – using collected papers, fabrics and found materials to echo the surfaces and atmospheres that inspire her, often drawn from travels across Europe.
Weathered walls, sunbaked façades and architectural fragments become abstracted yet deeply evocative compositions. The balance she strikes between structure and spontaneity gives her work both strength and sensitivity.
2. Amanda Drage
Wildlife art continues to evolve beyond tradition, and Amanda Drage is at the forefront of that shift. Known for her emotionally charged animal portraits that feel both intimate and contemporary, Amanda’s work often centres on the gaze of her subjects – lions, wolves, birds of prey – captured in close-up compositions that emphasise expression and connection. While her paintings are largely representational, the boldness of her framing and use of negative space pushes the work beyond conventional wildlife art.
Working across oil paint, charcoal and soft pastel, Amanda moves fluidly between realism and expressive mark-making. In recent years, she has also built a strong international reputation as a pet portrait artist, with pastel commissions in particular demand.
3. Cecil Rice
Few artists capture the poetry of light quite like Cecil Rice. Based in Brighton, Cecil is widely admired for his atmospheric watercolours and oils that celebrate coastal life, architecture and luminous European cityscapes.
His work draws inspiration from masters such as J. M. W. Turner and Claude Monet, as evidenced by his passionate handling of colour and fascination with shifting light. Brighton landmarks – including the West Pier and Royal Pavilion – feature prominently, alongside radiant Venetian scenes.
As interest in contemporary impressionist approaches grows, his work feels newly relevant and poised for wider recognition in 2026.
4. David Lloyd Collins
Warwickshire-based artist David Lloyd Collins has carved out a distinctive niche through his vibrant, textured oil paintings of animals and portrait subjects. Known for blending traditional techniques with abstract, energetic mark-making, his work often features horses, dogs and particularly expressive, characterful cow portraits.
Using palette knives and custom tools, David builds thick layers of paint to create movement and depth, aiming to capture what he describes as the ‘inner strength’ and ‘untamed spirit’ of his subjects.
With more than 15 years of experience producing commissioned portraits, he continues to refine his technical skill and bold style.
5. Kevin Sharkey
Artist, designer and broadcaster Kevin Sharkey is known for his colourful, expressive paintings and his role in making art more accessible to wider audiences. His work often features bold palettes, fluid themes and energetic compositions that reflect a strong decorative sensibility.
Alongside his painting practice, Kevin has become a familiar public figure through television and community arts initiatives, bringing creativity into everyday spaces. His approachable style and emphasis on joy and colour have earned him a loyal following.
Explore these artists at Lorimer Gallery
Lorimer Gallery in Rugby stands not only as a showcase but also as a champion of artists whose work continues to evolve, inspire, and connect with audiences.
From European-inspired abstraction to luminous coastal scenes, soulful animal portraits and bold decorative statements, the gallery has something for everyone – collectors and art lovers alike.
