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Trudy C T Phillip - Edinburgh Caribbean Association
Person wearing a purple jumper, turned sideways and looking at the camera and smiling.

Trudy C T Phillip

Visual Artist | đź“Ť Scotland

Instagram | Email | Website

Trudy C. T. Phillip is a portrait artist whose work draws deeply from her personal experiences of resilience, loss, and cultural identity. Raised in Trinidad by her strict Grenadian grandmother, a seamstress, Trudy’s early exposure to craft and discipline became the foundation of her creative practice. Her grandmother’s influence, alongside the themes of family and motherhood, later became central to her portraits.

At 16, Trudy faced the profound loss of both her mother and grandmother, who passed away just four months apart. This experience shaped her emotional depth and worldview, eventually inspiring her art. In her early twenties, disillusioned by the pressures of conventional life, she gradually abandoned the rat race in search of a more meaningful path. In her mid-40s, she rediscovered her artistic passion, focusing on portraiture that honours the strength and tenacity of single mothers. Now embracing a nomadic lifestyle, Trudy is currently based in Scotland, where her artistic journey continues to evolve and thrive.

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This pencil portrait, titled Ma Commère, presents a warm and inviting depiction of a woman smiling softly. Her face is finely drawn with graceful shading that emphasises her high cheekbones, full lips, and expressive eyes. The loose, nature of her hair locks fall around her face and frame her features, adding a sense of softness and spontaneity. Her confident expression suggests familiarity and a deep sense of kinship, befitting the title, which in French Creole can refer to a close female friend or godmother figure. The portrait’s background is gently shaded with pastel hues, blending seamlessly into the subject, creating a subtle glow around her. She is dressed in a simple blue garment, which further enhances the gentle colour palette and complements the overall harmony of the piece. The artist’s signature is placed at the bottom right, marking this beautiful and expressive portrayal of warmth, connection, and personal identity.
This charcoal portrait, titled Liberosis, captures the profile of a serene, dark-skinned woman with her eyes closed, evoking a sense of deep introspection and calm. The fine detailing on her features, such as the fullness of her lips and the graceful contours of her face, is accentuated by expert shading. Her textured hair blends softly into the background, creating a dynamic contrast with the large hibiscus flower adorning her head. The flower, detailed with delicate petals and intricate stamen, adds a striking element of nature to the composition, symbolising beauty and tranquility. The portrait's monochromatic palette, from the deep shadows to the softly lit highlights, emphasises the woman's elegance and poise. The overall mood reflects a yearning for liberation and peacefulness, aligning with the concept of "liberosis"—the desire to care less about things. The artist’s signature is seen at the bottom, marking this thoughtful and evocative piece.
This striking coloured pencil portrait, titled Sunset Kiss, captures the introspective gaze of a woman looking off to her right, bathed in radiant, warm light. The artist skilfully blends rich hues of red, orange, yellow, and purple to create a dynamic interplay between shadow and light, reminiscent of the golden hour just before sunset. The subject's soft, full lips are accentuated by the luminous glow that caresses her face, giving the impression of warmth and serenity. Her eyes, focused on something unseen, evoke a sense of quiet reflection, while the precise detailing in her lashes and brows enhances her expressive gaze. The contrast between the cool blues and purples on one side of her face and the fiery tones on the other suggests a moment of transition, as day fades into night. The subtle texture created by the pencil strokes adds depth, drawing the viewer into this delicate, emotive moment. The title Sunset Kiss aptly conveys the fleeting beauty of this illuminated scene.
The colour pencil portrait entitled Aura features a side profile of a serene woman with her eyes gently closed, exuding calm and introspection. Her skin is shaded with a stunning array of blues, purples, and soft greens, creating a radiant, almost otherworldly effect. A large, vibrant pink hibiscus flower is tucked behind her ear, adding a touch of natural beauty and symbolising tranquillity or femininity. The background is a warm gradient of orange and pink tones, which contrasts beautifully with the cooler hues of her face and neck, enhancing the dreamlike atmosphere. The woman’s short, textured hair fades seamlessly into the background, allowing her graceful facial features and the vivid flower to stand out. The soft blending of colours on her skin and the smooth transitions between light and shadow demonstrate the artist’s mastery of colour pencil techniques. Signed in 2024, Aura conveys an ethereal, peaceful energy, inviting the viewer to share in its sense of stillness and inner reflection.
This vibrant coloured pencil portrait titled Midnight Tango captures the close-up of a woman's face in rich, swirling hues. The subject's serene yet powerful expression is depicted with partially closed eyelids and subtly parted lips. The use of bold, layered colours—including vivid purples, blues, oranges, and reds—creates an ethereal, dream-like effect, suggesting a dance between shadow and light. The soft shading transitions between cool and warm tones, accentuating the subject's smooth skin and full lips. The choice of colours highlights different facial contours, offering a dynamic sense of movement, as if light is constantly shifting across the surface. The piece evokes both intensity and tranquillity, as though the subject is enveloped in a private, contemplative moment. The precision and texture of the coloured pencil technique lend a tactile depth, enhancing the overall emotive quality of the work. The title hints at a sensual, nocturnal scene, where rhythm and emotion meet. In the bottom right is Trudy's signature and year of creation, 2024.