Ree Hodges
Infused with softness and tranquillity, the paintings of Newcastle-based visual artist Ree Hodges invite you to experience a moment of introspection.
WORDS: Cardia Speziale I PHOTOGRAPHY: Sophie Tyler
Newcastle-based visual artist Ree Hodges in her studio.
‘My process is quite intuitive and often starts without a rigid plan. I’m very visual, so I’ll sometimes create mood boards from images or colours that spark a particular feeling.’
Ree Hodge’s work has recently welcomed an evolution towards bolder features and deeper contours and contrasts.
‘Art has always been my outlet for navigating big emotions. My creative journey began as a form of therapy.’
‘My process is quite intuitive and often starts without a rigid plan. I’m very visual, so I’ll sometimes create mood boards from images or colours that spark a particular feeling.’
Newcastle-based visual artist Ree Hodges creates work layered with colour and emotion. Her soft aesthetic—at once tranquil and evocative—gently invites each viewer into the artist’s own introspective space.
Having found inspiration at an early age via mark-making, colour-exploration, and music, Ree’s process continues to be one grounded in observation, experimentation and intuition. While playing with colours to see how they interact, she’ll often paint to music as a way to allow melodies and lyrics to connect with the sentiment of her work.
‘There are moments when the process flows effortlessly and the piece comes together with ease, while other times it’s a more challenging journey that requires layering until it feels right,’ says Ree. ‘Knowing when a piece is finished is always tricky, but each artwork takes me on a unique emotional path, which makes it so rewarding,’ she adds.
While her repertoire predominantly features pieces with muted tones and abstract qualities, the artist’s work has recently welcomed an evolution towards bolder features and deeper contours and contrasts. Here, Ree explores the difficult balance between fragility and strength.
‘To be candid; I’ve faced anxiety and childhood trauma, which left me feeling pretty isolated at times,’ shares Ree. ‘I was a very quiet child and observed the world deeply but found it difficult to express myself, often holding back out of fear. As an adult, I learned I’m neurodivergent, and that discovery helped me show myself more compassion.’
Fostering a relationship with art that could uncover a place of self-discovery has served her well; Ree currently shares a creative space at SMAC Studios in Tighes Hill, while alternating with her home studio (a beautifully bustling home with her husband, two children and two fur-children), and was recently announced as a finalist in the Leda Gallery Art Prize for 2024.
‘One of the most pivotal steps I took was putting my artwork out into the world […] but it’s been incredibly rewarding,’ Ree reflects. ‘Painting allows me to process emotions I don’t always understand until they emerge on the canvas. This journey has been deeply personal, and I finally feel like I’ve found my purpose. It’s an incredible feeling,’ she adds.
While she tends not to plan too far ahead, Ree is looking forward to continuing her artistic experimentation with new styles and mediums in the not-too-distant future. She is exhibiting her work as part of a group show before the end of the year, and then again as part of a duo-show in May 2025.
To stay up to date with Ree’s work and exhibitions, visit her website or follow @ree_hodges_art on Instagram.
‘When my daughter came along, I started dabbling in art with her, and it reignited a passion. Art has been transformative for me. It’s given me a voice when words have felt out of reach.’
Ree Hodge’s work explores the difficult balance between fragility and strength.
‘I enjoy letting things unfold organically without too much pressure or expectation.’
‘Knowing when a piece is finished is always tricky, but each artwork takes me on a unique emotional path, which makes it so rewarding.’
‘I’m constantly learning and growing as an artist, but one of the most comforting lessons I’ve embraced is that even the most successful and established artists experience self-doubt.’
‘My process is quite intuitive and often starts without a rigid plan. I’m very visual, so I’ll sometimes create mood boards from images or colours that spark a particular feeling.’