Eliza Southwood practiced as an architect before deciding to pursue a career as an artist and illustrator, although she has drawn and painted throughout her life. Her first illustration commission came at the age of 13, for a Spanish children’s book. She spent much of her childhood in a remote part of Spain, where she developed a strong connection to mountain landscapes, regularly drawing and painting scenes of local life.
Read MoreShe later studied architecture at the Glasgow School of Art and in London, going on to work for practices including Eric Parry Architects and Arup Associates before returning to Spain. Her architectural training continues to influence her work today, giving her a strong sense of composition, structure, and colour. Eliza Southwood now works across silkscreen printing, mixed media, watercolour and acrylic.
Eliza Southwood is best known for her cycling-themed artwork, particularly her Tour de France mountain prints. These works capture the atmosphere, rhythm, and visual language of road cycling, often set against iconic alpine landscapes. Combining her early experiences of mountain life with her graphic style, she creates compositions that resonate with both cycling enthusiasts and collectors of contemporary art.
Her retro cycling prints are defined by their distinctive use of colour, drawing on palettes that evoke vintage poster design and classic race imagery. Through bold, carefully balanced tones and simplified forms, Eliza Southwood creates works that feel both nostalgic and contemporary. These considered colour combinations also make her prints a strong reference point for interior design palettes. While cycling remains a central theme, her portfolio also includes cityscapes, people, and everyday scenes, reflecting a broad and versatile artistic practice.
Eliza Southwood’s bold, graphic compositions translate naturally into graphic art for chalet interiors, particularly through her cycling and mountain-inspired prints. Her work brings colour, structure, and movement into alpine spaces, offering a contemporary take on mountain culture that complements modern chalet design.
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