Scarlett studied Fine Art at Central St Martins - University of the Arts London and as a second-year student in 2009, became one of the youngest painters in history to hold a solo exhibition at the prestigious Cork Street Gallery. Scarlett's groundbreaking collection The Danger Tree, a project commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, was on display for three months at the National Army Museum in London. 

Scarlett's work goes beyond the optical realism of impressionism to begin exploring the emotional and symbolic content of art. Her painting style is distinctive and characterised by several key elements, beginning with bold and vibrant colours, applied directly from the tube in thick impasto layers. Her colour choices are expressive and emotional reflecting her own experience of the world around her.  

Another element is her dramatic brushwork, which is energetic and expressive, using short visible brushstrokes which are incredibly pronounced and dynamic. The third element is her textured surfaces; Scarlett builds up paint on her canvas, adding depth and a tactile quality to her work. This impasto technique involves applying thick layers of paint to the canvas, allowing the viewer to see and feel the physical texture of the paint. Scarlett is also strongly drawn to natural subject matter including landscapes and portraits.  

'Van Gogh is the reason I paint,' explains Scarlett. 'In the short period of time he painted and lived, the way he was able to see the world was incredible and I'm trying to see the world in the capacity that he did. 'David Hockney also loved Van Gogh's work; both artists see the extraordinary in an unremarkable view and both are fascinated by the seasons, which bring about continuous change in nature. David Hockney once said: 'Lots of people scan the ground in front of them so they can walk, but they don't really look at things. Van Gogh really looked'. Now I am really looking'. Scarlett is driven by a passion for portraying nature. 'The sun and moon are always an important feature in my work as they provide life, and everything on the planet relies on it to survive to be seen. I am guided by nature when I paint my scenes'.

She is also inspired by being a mother to two young children, which has given a new dimension to her life and art. 'Motherhood has made me absorb things quickly and has made me grounded and present,' she says. 'My children inspired me to look at things like I did when I was a child: to not fear the wind on my face, or the noise outside. I'm not fighting the experience, I'm in awe of it. It's less about the destination and more about the journey. When people look at my artworks, I want them to feel the amazement that babies feel when looking at something for the first time. They're a portal to a magical, safe place where anything is possible."

A hugely popular artist, Scarlett Raven's work has been collected by celebrities including Keith Richards, Orlando Bloom, Duffy and Jim Beach, manager of rock band Queen. She has also been featured by titles such as The Tate, ES Magazine, Frieze, Modern Painter, The Times and the Evening Standard. Her paintings have also been regularly seen on BBC News and BBC arts programming.