Creating Worlds That Don’t Exist
From his Manchester studio to prestigious galleries across the world, abstract artist Ian Rayer-Smith on his entry into the art world, his creative process and what’s next for his collectors
For artist Ian Rayer-Smith, a pivotal moment in front of a single painting in a California gallery aged 37, prompted a complete departure from his successful business career. Now working out his studio in Manchester, Ian produces monumental, emotionally resonant abstract canvases that defy strict representation. His physical, highly intuitive process relies on discovery rather than planning, allowing feeling to find its own form on the canvas. Today, his commanding works grace prestigious private collections and galleries worldwide, from London and Munich to West Hollywood and Sydney.
Here, Ian speaks on his entry into the art world, his creative process and what’s next for his collectors.
You famously left behind a completely different career and life to embrace your calling as an artist. What was the catalyst or turning point?
Everything changed during a visit to an art gallery in California nearly twenty years ago. Standing in front of one painting, I felt an overwhelming certainty that painting was what I was meant to do. When I returned to England, I enrolled on an art course and eventually left my business career behind.
What does a life dedicated purely to visual expression offer you that your previous life could not?
It has given me purpose. My previous career was successful on paper, but painting gives me something far deeper: curiosity, fulfilment and the privilege of creating work that connects with people around the world.
Your work is showcased in prestigious galleries worldwide, yet it all originates in your Manchester studio. How does the creative energy of the city influence the art you produce?
Manchester has always felt like a city that values individuality. It has an independent spirit and a creative energy that encourages people to forge their own path rather than follow trends. That resonates with the way I work. My paintings aren’t direct responses to the city. In the studio I’m trying to create worlds that don’t already exist. Manchester provides the freedom and energy to do that, but the paintings themselves come from somewhere much more internal.
Your contemporary abstract style is known for its incredible emotional depth. Can you walk us through your creative process and how you arrive at such visceral, non-representational imagery?
I never begin with a fixed image in mind. Painting is a process of discovery. I start with instinctive marks and respond to what appears on the canvas. Sometimes a painting changes direction dozens of times before revealing its own identity. I’m searching for something that feels emotionally true rather than representing a specific subject.
For those discovering your work for the first time, which piece from your current portfolio best captures the essence of your artistic identity?
Probably ‘The Captivation of Our Dreams’. It embodies scale, movement, emotion and complexity while leaving space for the viewer’s imagination. Ultimately though, I hope collectors choose the painting they simply can’t stop thinking about.
You frequently experiment with scale, producing massive, commanding canvases. How does shifting from a smaller format to a monumental scale change your physical relationship with the paint?
Large paintings become almost architectural. You’re moving your entire body rather than just your hand.
That physical immersion creates an energy that’s difficult to achieve on smaller works.
Abstract art has a unique ability to define the atmosphere of a home. What do you hope a large-scale Ian Rayer-Smith piece introduces to the grand architectural spaces and private collections of Cheshire?
I hope it brings presence. A large painting can transform a room by creating an emotional focal point. I want people to continue discovering new things within the work over many years.
What does the next chapter of your career promise for collectors?
My focus has always been on making the strongest paintings I possibly can. I’m expanding internationally, working with exceptional galleries and continuing to evolve rather than repeat myself. I hope collectors are investing in a journey as much as a painting.
To explore available works or arrange a private studio visit, please visit ianrayersmith.com
or follow @ianrayersmith on Instagram
Hungry for more?
Read up on the latest news, delicious eats, travel treats and seasonal style trends in FEATURES, or browse a curated selection of our FEATURED PRODUCTS, meander through our guide to the finest things to do in Cheshire and beyond in WHATS ON or partake in our COMPETITIONS.
About The CHESHIRE Magazine
We are the definitive guide to luxury lifestyle in the North West. Latest news, delicious eats, travel treats and seasonal style trends. The Cheshire Magazine is the largest luxury lifestyle title for the North West of England, dropping directly through the letterboxes of VIP subscribers from the Wirral to Greater Manchester plus all the villages and towns in between and digitally available as a subscription in print and digital on issuu.com worldwide. We specialise in connecting luxury brands to likeminded consumers.
If you are interested on how you can partner with The CHESHIRE Magazine, read more about us. Or get in touch to find out more about marketing, featuring or partnering with the Cheshire Magazine in print or online.
