Elements of Being – Erika Vado

Elements of Being explores the inner landscape through abstract expressions of Earth, Air, Fire and Water, using colour, texture and light to evoke spiritual connection.

Elements of Being is a new body of abstract and semi-abstract oil paintings that explores the interconnected energies of the four classical elements – Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These forces, ever-present in nature, also mirror our internal emotional and spiritual landscapes. Together they form the foundation of both the natural world around us and the quiet, shifting terrain within.

Through expressive use of oils on canvas, I translate the changing moods of nature into colour, texture, and light. Each element becomes a visual language of feeling: Earth embodies grounding, stability, and stillness. Built through layered, organic tones and tactile surfaces, these works reflect the quiet strength of landforms, ancient rock, and the steady pulse beneath our feet. Air evokes openness, movement, and spaciousness. Soft transitions, diffused light, and luminous atmospheres capture the sensation of breath and the vastness of the Scottish sky. Fire represents transformation, passion, and vitality. Warm palettes, bold gestures, and energetic marks echo the element’s intensity, its ability to ignite, renew, and reshape. Water channels emotion, reflection, and fluidity. Flowing compositions and subtle shifts of colour reveal the element’s depth and its capacity to hold memory, intuition, and change.

The Scottish landscape, particularly the coastline, the North Sea, and the expansive skies of the Highlands, plays a central role in this work. Its shifting light, unpredictable weather, and raw beauty provide endless inspiration. Instead of depicting these environments directly, I work from the impressions they leave behind: the feeling of wind across open water, the warmth of late-day sun dissolving into cloud, the quiet rhythm of tides. My process is intuitive and meditative, allowing each painting to emerge organically through memory, emotion, and energetic response.

Elements of Being continues my ongoing exploration of nature’s power to restore balance, presence, and connection. It reflects my belief that the natural world holds profound, transformative energy, an energy that can ground us, open us, challenge us, and guide us back to ourselves. Working in oils allows me to honour this complexity, using depth, luminosity, and layered textures to create spaces that invite contemplation.

This exhibition presents a collection of wall-hung oil paintings, each capturing an elemental state of being. Together, they form an immersive journey through the forces that shape our environment and our inner lives, inviting viewers to reflect on their own emotional landscapes and to reconnect with the essential energies that move through us all.

Artist Bio – Erika Vado
Art has always been at the heart of my life. From an early age, I have been captivated by the colours, rhythms, and emotions of the natural world. Now, working from my studio at Wasps Creative Academy in Inverness, I create abstract and semi-abstract seascapes and landscapes that capture the ever-changing light, depth, and energy of the Scottish environment. The North Sea and the expansive skies of the Highlands are constant sources of inspiration, their moods and movement reflecting both nature’s wild spirit and its serenity.

I work primarily in oils, building expressive layers that convey atmosphere and emotion. My process is intuitive and reflective, allowing each painting to evolve through feeling and memory rather than strict representation. I aim to create spaces that invite calm, connection, and contemplation – moments where viewers can experience the same sense of wonder that I feel in nature.

Born in Lithuania, I hold a BA Honours in Art and have studied Fine Art and Art History. My creative journey spans painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, and textiles, shaped by nearly two decades working in early years education. Working with children has been especially transformative, reminding me of the joy of discovery and the freedom of expression that continues to fuel my practice.

Sustainability is an integral part of my work. I upcycle old canvases and choose environmentally conscious materials to honour the world that inspires me. For me, art is a lifelong journey of learning, renewal, and connection – a way to bring harmony, positivity, and beauty into the world.