Mónica Vitorino is a Portuguese-British artist living in London. After finishing her Master’s degree in architecture she studied painting at the National Society of Fine Arts in Lisboa, Portugal. Watercolour has become her preferred medium: for the richness of the colours, the instant results and how unforgiving it can be. Watercolour exposes any error and for her this adds to the challenge - and the joy - when it can lead to something unexpected.

Fashion, a lifelong passion, inspires her work. From the motion and dynamism of classic runway to timeless fashion photoshoots, she represents these images using a vibrant palette. Her Portuguese heritage exercises a powerful parallel influence. Traditional azulejos (Portuguese glazed tiles) are a key source of inspiration, for their patterns, geometry and composition.

These influences and passions are combined with Mónica’s forensic eye for detail and precision, borne from years as a practising architect. The beauty of the clothes and tiles of her paintings contrast with the stark and clinical geometric negative spaces, reminiscent of architectural drawings and blueprints.

Mónica won the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 212th Exhibition Cass Art Prize, awarded to a work demonstrating innovative use of colour.