Rebecca De Mendonca

Rebecca was born near Wolverhampton into a creative family. Her mother was an artist and teacher, her father an architect, her brother a painter.  After a Foundation Course at Wolverhampton University in Art and Design she gained a BA Hons at Wimbledon School of Art in theatre design. She has been lucky enough to work with some highly creative people, on some fascinating projects. These include sculpting  the famous ceiling in Harrods Food Hall and producing work for Warwick Castle museum and Madame Tussauds.

Rebecca was design assistant to Kevin McCloud, and worked with top theatre designers including Terry Parsons and Maria Bjornson. She has worked on West End shows including Aspects of Love and Phantom of the Opera, specialising in paint finishes.  Rebecca has done Post-production work for the BBC and has illustrated 10 travel guides for Bradt Publications.  

Theatre commissions and paintings of actors in West End shows include Gavin Lee as Bert in Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre, and the cast of Peter Pan at the Savoy Theatre. Dance commissions include English National Ballet.

Now living in Devon, Rebecca’s subjects include horses and landscapes, as well as people and architectural scenes. She has become well known for her Equestrian Art, and is an Associate member and a trustee of the Society of Equestrian Artists. She has exhibited with the Pastel Society and in 2019 was shortlisted for the Artists and Illustrators ‘Artists of the Year’ for the third year running, exhibiting at the Mall galleries in London. Her paintings are in collections all over the World.

Awards:

2024 Won the Yoshimoto Prize at the Pastel Society 125th Annual Exhibition, for ‘Sunshine and Steam’. Awarded to ‘an outstanding piece of work by a non-member’

2023 Won 2 awards at Pastel Society Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London
– 2023 Anthony J Lester Art Critic Award
– 2023 Visitors Choice Award

2022 Awarded ‘Best Works by an Associate Artist’ at the Society of Equestrian Artists ‘Horse in Art Exhibition’ at the Sally Mitchell Gallery

2021 Bit Magazine, The Netherlands, July/August Edition
Shortlisted for International art competition, collaboration with Paardverzameld Collective and Bit Magazine

2019 Artist of the Year shortlist, exhibiting at the Mall Galleries

Rebecca is passionate about her medium of soft pastels, and in 2013 co-founded The New Pastel School with her good friend and pastel artist Nel Whatmore, teaching courses in the UK and Italy. Her writing includes articles for Leisure Painter Magazine, and Paint & Draw Magazine, and she has online courses on her website. In 2020 she began regular live zoom pastel tutorials, as a way to get more people enjoying art during the pandemic.

Rebecca’s book, ‘Pastels for the Absolute Beginner’ published by Search Press, is available now, and she is currently writing her second book.