Eileen Cooper RA
Eileen Cooper is a painter whose figurative work explores the journey of womanhood. Navigating motherhood, dreams, travel, sexuality, life and death, her characteristic female protagonists are pictured at work or at play, in scenarios which often border on the fantastical.
Drawing from life sits at the core of Eileen’s practice and works on paper play a key role. She is a technically accomplished printmaker, and working in pastel and watercolour brings an emotive, tactile quality to her imagery. Sisterly support and collaboration are strong themes which run through Eileen’s practice, and are echoed in her wider career as a teacher.
Eileen studied at Goldsmiths College (1971-74) the Royal College of Art (1974-77), going on to teach at a wide range of prestigious art schools. In 2000 she was elected a Royal Academician, and from 2010-17 served as Keeper of the Royal Academy – the artistic head of the RA Schools – as the first woman to hold this role. She was made an Officer of the British Empire in 2016.
Cooper has exhibited widely in the UK and internationally. Her work is held in many public and private collections including the Tate Gallery; the Arts Council Collection; the British Museum; the Royal Collection; Victoria & Albert Museum and Dallas Museum of Art, Texas. Most recently, her work has been exhibited at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, at Turner’s House, London and at Seventy Five at Liberty’s, London. Eileen lives in south east London.
We are proud to present ‘Lyrical’, a solo exhibition of previously unseen and new works on paper by Eileen, open 1-30 May 2026. Please enquire about available works.
Portrait of the artist by Jenny Lewis
Shop works by Eileen Cooper RA
Ink, charcoal and watercolour, 29.5 x 21cm
Eileen Cooper is a painter and printmaker with a strong commitment to figuration. Sometimes described as a magic realist, she brings an unapologetically female perspective to her subject-matter, which encompasses sexuality, motherhood, life and death.
This framed mixed media drawing is part of a previously unseen body of work titled ‘Lyrical’, made in response to a group of poems by writer Denise Riley. Here, the artist uses dramatic changes of scale to create a fantastical scene where miniature boats drift past a figure lost in her dreams.
Please note that if purchased this work will not be available until 31 May.
Ink, pastel and watercolour, 29.5 x 21cm
Eileen Cooper is a painter and printmaker with a strong commitment to figuration. Sometimes described as a magic realist, she brings an unapologetically female perspective to her subject-matter, which encompasses sexuality, motherhood, life and death.
This framed mixed media drawing is part of a previously unseen body of work titled ‘Lyrical’, made in response to a group of poems by writer Denise Riley. The artist’s subject is pictured hand on heart, her red shoes providing a pop of colour.
Purchased works are usually despatched within three working days.
Ink, pastel, and watercolour, 29.5 x 21cm
Eileen Cooper is a painter and printmaker with a strong commitment to figuration. Sometimes described as a magic realist, she brings an unapologetically female perspective to her subject-matter, which encompasses sexuality, motherhood, life and death.
This framed mixed media drawing is part of a previously unseen body of work titled ‘Lyrical’, made in response to a group of poems by writer Denise Riley. This work features three of the artist’s distinctive female figures, surrounded by a dreamlike haze of lilac.
Please note that if purchased this work will not be available until 31 May.