For most of my life, I have been drawn to impressionism and abstraction, but four years ago I began training in classical figurative painting, and it immediately felt like coming home. Today I paint mostly from life, with a focus on portraiture. Working over multiple sessions allows me to build a genuine connection with the sitter and to translate the emotional resonance I experience into the work.

I see art as an escape into quietude and contemplation — a rare pause in a fast-paced world. In my practice, I draw on the subtle language of gesture and light, using these elements to invite the viewer into a moment of inner stillness and recognition. I combine creativity with the discipline of the craft, and I am a perfectionist by nature; I polish a piece until it feels balanced, resolved, and true to the person or object before me.

Based in London, I work primarily in oil and have exhibited in the UK, Poland, and Russia. My goal is to create paintings that honour the presence of the sitter while offering the viewer a sense of calm, intimacy, and quiet reflection.

Klaudyna Rajchel is a classically trained painter based in London, working primarily in oil, charcoal, and graphite. Born in Poland and educated in the UK and France, she has lived in several countries, studying representational art in a number of ateliers. While grounded in academic training, her practice is largely self-directed, shaped by close study of the Old Masters, engagement with contemporary movements, and ongoing individual experimentation.

Klaudyna Rajchel has exhibited internationally, including in Poland, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Her recent exhibitions include selection for the 7th John Ruskin Prize (2025) in London, ING Discerning Eye (2024), and Cass Art Prize (2025).