Our Visionary Artists, Academics, Curators and Associated Institutions

Degard is a visionary artist whose spiritual experiences began at a very young age. At the tender age of two, she felt the benevolent presence of the Virgin Mary while at pre - school. 

Degard's approach to creating her art is unique. She asks questions of the Akashic Record/Universal Mind/God/Angelic Presences such as asking for the aura of something or someone, and the Record would reveal it to her in paint. Her connection to the spiritual realm and her ability to access information has helped her to gain insights into many topics, including Covid-19, long before science caught up.

Degard is a fine artist with a BA from Chelsea College of Art and an MRes from the Royal College of Art. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate in Fine Art at the University of East London. She has exhibited her works extensively in London, New York, and Oman.

Degard is not only the owner and curator of The Visionary Brit Museum but also the founder of the Contemporary Visionary genre and regularly curates exhibitions that focus on this genre. 

Carolyn Gowdy is a Visionary artist whose work explores the intersection of fairy tales, mythology and the subconscious mind. Her whimsical and dreamlike artworks draw on a wide range of influences, including Victorian-era illustration, Japanese woodblock prints, and the work of surrealist artists like Max Ernst.

Gowdy's work often centres around themes of transformation and metamorphosis, using imagery of plants, animals, and fantastical creatures to explore the hidden depths of the human psyche. Her colourful and highly detailed illustrations have appeared in books, magazines, and advertising campaigns around the world. Whether she's creating illustrations for children's books or designing album covers for musicians like Bjork and David Byrne, Carolyn Gowdy's Visionary art invites us to explore the hidden realms of imagination.

After Melissa Alley suffered the massive trauma of losing her young son, Dyllan, it was as though she had been "opened up". She started creating "automatic" paintings inhabited by all sorts of unexpected presences, people and animals. Working with these energies was enhanced by using the transformative powers of trance to heal others mentally and physically. Alley states that when she connects with these energetic traces, she can begin to materialise their lives in paint. These pieces flow out of her and richly portray the physical, emotional and spiritual lives of the subjects, from their past, present and future.

Max Ernst was a renowned artist and key figure in the Visionary art movement. Through his dreamlike compositions and innovative techniques, Ernst created unsettling worlds that merged humans, animals and objects into hybrid forms for the viewer to explore. 

His boundary-pushing artworks frequently delved into the realms of mythology, psychology and the subconscious, challenging typical reality and inspiring a generation of Visionary artists to embrace their creativity

Caroline Way is particularly interested in site-specific artwork embodied within a landscape. She is drawn towards exploring liminal edges and enjoys delving into little known subjects full of layered meanings and ideas. 

Caroline exhibited a series entitled Okome’s Dream at The Visionary Brit Museum which explored her alter ego ‘Okome’. 

Suzette Field has been an ethical taxidermist and teacher for over 10 years and aims to bring a fine art perspective to this work. Field uses taxidermy as a way of connecting with the natural world and appreciating these every day, but fascinating creatures.

Her most recent exhibition at The Visionary Brit was the extremely popular Fox in The Box show which caught huge amounts of attention from passers-by. The exhibit featured a full-size, suited and booted taxidermy fox.

Dr. Alan Rayner is an esteemed academic whose work explores the complex relationship between science, nature and art, particularly in the realm of Visionary art. With a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of all living beings, Rayner's research and writings offer a unique perspective on the transformative power of art.

Through his studies, Dr. Rayner delves into the intrinsic connection between creativity and the natural world, recognising that Visionary art has the potential to bridge the gap between rational understanding and intuitive perception. 

The late Professor Tom McLeish’s work typically explored the deep connections between scientific enquiry, human imagination and artistic expression. His research shed light on how Visionary art can illuminate profound truths about the world and ourselves, forging a bridge between empirical observation and inspiration and insight.

McLeish's work delved into the profound interplay between creativity, intuition, and scientific exploration. He examined the ways in which Visionary artists tap into universal archetypes, draw inspiration from the natural world and provide a fresh perspective on the human condition.

Caroline Wiseman is an experience art dealer and author, having great success selling prints by old masters such as Picasso and Braque. 

Ten years ago, Caroline and her late partner Francis Carnwath founded the Aldeburgh Beach Lookout at as a catalyst for challenging ideas through art.