Celebrating International Women's Day

Pascale Taurua has been painting since her youth, and has also worked as a model, and 1978's Miss France. In the seventies, the Miss World competition was targeted by feminist protesters because of the way it objectified women, yet the world of the beauty queen empowered Pascale, who walked away from the title after six months, and she used the experience positively. "It was a short period of time, but it has still marked my life," she says. "The positive thing about being Miss France was that it gave me a way of thinking that I could use; that we should not be at the mercy of others."

With a unique combination of figurative art with elements of the French street art aesthetic, Pascale creates powerful and sensual artworks that celebrate the beauty of fashion as a form of self-expression. Her earlier career, heavily focused on the fashion industry, introduced Pascale to the idea of painting her memories and exploring the multitude of influences of the fashion world and how clothing has such a strong impact on how they make people feel. The artist newest collection is a combination of those influences with more focus on the celebration of confident female figures. Mainly inspired by strong female characters, the artworks are bold statements in celebration of being happy in your own skin and to demonstrate the female strength and power.

"Parisian style is a mix of street style and high fashion, and I love to play with them both. Everything I paint is everything that I used to live. Every time I open a magazine, I feel inspired. My love for fashion is endless."

Shazia began her career in a greetings card company, then went freelance and started a family. She is now a full-time artist, famed for her perceptive paintings of children and young people. The bright and cheerful colours she uses in them are inspired by her travels in South America, where she took a trip after university with her now-husband Ian. Shazia’s first painting was a piece for her infant son’s nursery entitled ‘Anna and Guto’. She wanted a child to be able to appreciate the image so created an uncomplicated and simple design which set the tone for her portrait pieces to date.

A Letter To My Younger Self continues this theme with vibrant limited-edition portraits of children, whose colours pop from Shazia’s trademark dark backgrounds, influenced by Renaissance art. Shazia’s portraits of children are indicative of how she paints by instinct and isn’t afraid to deviate from her original ideas.

“Sometimes I know which direction I'm going and then all of a sudden, I just swerve out of nowhere and then it goes off to something else.”

Castle Fine Art is also proud to have amazing women working for the company in our galleries and head office, and they all bring something special to Castle Fine Art. Lucinda Moyne, our Head of Online Sales, says: "My favourite thing about working for Castle has to be the incredible artists and art I get to work with every day. I love the variety of my job and no two days are ever the same."

Gemma Wilson is Gallery Co-Ordinator at our Birmingham Mailbox gallery (pictured left), and says: "‘I find working within Castle Fine Art an energetic, empowering environment where progression is welcomed and embraced. The diversity within the company is evident and exciting and most certainly has a family feel. I am proud to be a part of a company that is constantly growing and allows people opportunities to thrive."