The Dover Prize would be transformational. It would allow me to step away from the financial constraints, giving me dedicated time and space to evolve a new body of work that blends painting with experimental materials and installation to deepen the sensory connection to the landscape. I aim to explore how environmental change—not only seasonal but also ecological—shapes emotional experience and cultural memory.
The funding would support the setup of a permanent studio space, purchase of new materials, research trips into rural and coastal regions of the UK, and collaboration with environmental or sound artists. I’m excited by the challenge of expanding my practice into more immersive and collaborative directions. I want to engage new audiences, especially those who may not typically visit galleries, through participatory workshops.
As a disabled single mother, opportunities like the Dover Prize offer not just support but visibility. With mentoring and a platform to share my work more widely, I believe this award could catalyse the next stage of my career, enabling me to take bold creative risks, forge meaningful collaborations, and contribute more significantly to both the artistic and wider community. I aim to continue developing my painting practice by experimenting with new techniques and mediums. This could involve integrating mixed media and exploring larger-scale works. Pushing the boundaries of my creative expression will help me grow as an artist and bring fresh perspectives to my work.
Over the next five years, I will focus on honing a distinct personal artistic voice, further developing the themes that are central to my work. This might involve exploring topics such as identity, cultural heritage, and the interplay between nature and abstraction.
I also plan to significantly expand my exhibition portfolio by participating in more international shows and art fairs, as well as continuing my involvement in local exhibitions. My goal is to showcase my work in renowned galleries and cultural institutions across the UK and Europe, which will increase my visibility and establish myself as a recognised name in the contemporary art scene.
My practice is rooted in exploring the emotional and psychological resonance of the natural world, focusing on seasonal cycles and environmental transformation. Inspired by landscapes such as the Peak District, I use semi-abstract acrylic painting to reflect how nature’s rhythms mirror human experience. I believe my work could make a meaningful contribution to Darlington’s creative landscape by connecting people emotionally to the local environment—particularly through site-responsive works that engage with Darlington’s rich history and natural beauty.
I am especially inspired by Raby Castle’s storied past and its surrounding deer park. If selected, I would research and create a new body of work that interprets the seasonal atmosphere of the estate, capturing the interplay between history, memory, and the living landscape. This would culminate in a contemporary exhibition that invites local audiences to see their heritage and surroundings through a fresh, emotionally resonant lens.
By incorporating community engagement—through workshops, talks, or collaborative pieces—I hope to foster dialogue around the value of place, continuity, and renewal. My work aims to not only raise the profile of contemporary visual art in Darlington but to help build a sense of connection and pride in the town’s unique cultural and environmental identity.
As a Romanian-born, UK-based fine artist, my practice explores the cyclical rhythms of nature and their emotional resonance through semi-abstract acrylic paintings. Inspired by the Peak District landscape, I investigate how seasonal shifts affect our perception of time, mood, and memory. My work aims to mirror life’s transitions—highlighting transformation, continuity, and renewal.
Although I earned my BA in Decorative Art from the National University of Arts Bucharest in 2008, I returned to my practice more fully in the past seven years due to personal circumstances. Since then, I’ve been building momentum—exhibiting in over 10 shows annually, participating in the 2024 Women in Art exhibition during the London Biennale at Chelsea Old Town Hall in London.
Working primarily with acrylic on canvas, I adopt a semi-abstract style that captures the energy, movement, and constant transformation found in the natural world. My paintings have been exhibited nationally and internationally. I am honoured to be a Fellow of the Nottingham Society of Artists, a member of NAPA (National Acrylic Painters’ Association) and Visual Artists Association. I create compelling works that bridge the natural world and human emotion.
My work captures the emotional resonance of the changing seasons, inviting viewers to reflect on their own connection to nature. My recent exhibitions include
• Moderna Gallery, London UK
• Museum of Modern Art in Barcelona, Spain
• Annual Exhibition 2025, NAPA, Sidmouth UK
• Fellow Exhibition, Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery UK
• Top Selection 25, BBA Gallery, Berlin, Germany
• Spring Exhibition, Galeria Moderna, Cambridge UK
• Friends exhibition, Royal Birmingham Society of Arts UK
• The Harley Open, Harley Galley, Welbeck Estate, Worksop, UK
• Casa del Arte Palma de Majorca, ARTBOX PROJECT Palma2.0, Spain Alongside my personal practice, I am passionate about making art accessible and inspiring others to explore their own creativity. My commitment to both artmaking and education has been a driving force throughout my career. For more than six years, I collaborate with Inspire Culture to deliver community art courses to adult learners, being .
I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Decorative Art, awarded by the National University of Arts in Bucharest in 2008. This four-year, full-time program provided a comprehensive and immersive education in the visual arts, with a strong emphasis on developing both practical artistic skills and theoretical knowledge. My studies were centered on the field of decorative design, with a particular specialization in ambient ceramic forms. Through a combination of studio practice and formative academic disciplines, I engaged in extensive artistic research, honing my creative abilities and deepening my understanding of material, form, and spatial aesthetics as they relate to contemporary decorative art.
The Parcus Prize Global Art Contest – Third Prize, 2025
Artist of the Year Competition, Juror’s Choice Award, Circle Foundation, 2025
Holbrooke Prize, The Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery, First prize, 2024
Over the past five years, I have actively created and led a series of artist-led projects that have become some of the most joyful, empowering, and professionally fulfilling aspects of my creative practice. These initiatives have allowed me to shape my own opportunities, foster community among fellow artists, and present contemporary visual art in an inclusive, accessible way. Working independently, I have curated and organised multiple exhibitions at the Nottingham Society of Artists Gallery, transforming the space into a dynamic platform for emerging and mid-career artists.
Key projects include Awakening (2021), Within and Beyond (2022), A & Friends (2023, 2024), and The Journey (2025). Each project has been carefully developed to reflect personal and collective artistic exploration, often responding to themes of identity, transformation, and connection. These exhibitions have enabled me to build networks, engage local audiences, and support the visibility of underrepresented voices within the contemporary art scene.
Through these self-initiated projects, I have gained significant experience in curating, coordinating logistics, promoting events, and supporting fellow creatives. These endeavours reflect my commitment not only to my own growth as an artist but also to nurturing a collaborative and resilient artistic community in Nottingham and beyond.
In 2017 I was commissioned by Bailey House Care Home in Mansfield to create a bespoke interior mural designed to enhance the living environment for residents, staff, and visitors. Over the course of this project, I painted in situ a large-scale Mediterranean landscape in their family meeting room.
The mural was thoughtfully designed to bring warmth, light, and a sense of escapism into the care home setting. Drawing from my fine art training and using a variety of painting techniques, I created a vivid, tranquil scene that blended realism with artistic expression. The composition was developed with the residents in mind, offering familiar and calming imagery that encouraged relaxation and evoked positive memories.
This project allowed me to explore the therapeutic potential of visual art in a community setting. The mural quickly became a focal point within the home, sparking conversations and providing a welcoming, visually rich environment for residents, their families, and staff. This experience reinforced my commitment to creating accessible, emotionally resonant artwork and demonstrated how art can make a meaningful impact on well-being and quality of life in public spaces.
11 original landscape paintings have been included in a public collection at the Royal Derby Hospital (Air Arts) during Connection exhibition (2022) Scarborough Hospital and at Queens Hospital Burton, Belong exhibition (2025/2026).
Artist Spotlight, Contemporary Art Curator Magazine, 2025
Artist Interview, Circle Foundation for the Arts, 2025
Fresh Magazine, Air Arts (University Hospitals of Derby and Burton) Autumn/Winter 2022
Flux Review –Virtual Group V1 Exhibition, London, UK, 2021
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As a single mother of a young child and a disabled artist, I have not yet had the opportunity to take part in any artist residency or placement scheme—despite a strong desire to do so. Personal circumstances and caregiving responsibilities have limited my access to such experiences.
Email: alexandra.ghimisi.art@gmail.com
Address: 18 Crampton Avenue, Nottinghamshire, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG182EH, GB
Local Authority: Mansfield District
