Ray West

Ray is an international award-winning pastel and pastel pencil artist based in Essex, England. Precision and detail are central to his work, and over time has developed a distinctive hyperrealism style that has become his hallmark.

Ray's paintings encompass a range of subjects, often drawn to motoring themes and unusual perspectives of light, shadow, and reflection. Every artwork begins with reference images I have captured on film - moments that spark his imagination and inspire him to transform them into art. Ray creates what fascinate him most, choosing subjects that resonate deeply rather than conforming to external expectations.

Working with pastel pencils and soft pastels, he devotes many hours to building layers of detail and atmosphere into each piece, with the aim of capturing not just how something looks, but how it existed in that moment.

Ray is a member of the Guild of Motoring Artists, a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America, and a Journeyer member with the Pastel Guild of Europe. His recent achievements include winning first place in the 2024 International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS) 45th Open Division Exhibition and first place in the 2024 SAA Artists of the Year