Susan Fraser-Hughes
Contemporary Charcoal Artist
I’m Susan Fraser-Hughes, a contemporary artist based in Vancouver, Canada, creating charcoal drawings that explore light, memory, emotion and the strange beauty hidden inside ordinary objects. My work sits between realism and reflection, usually somewhere in the space where people stop talking for a minute and just look.
I was born in Queensland, Australia, and over the years my work has gradually become an ongoing conversation between observation, emotion and materiality.
I work primarily with charcoal on frosted Mylar because I love the softness, tension and unpredictability the medium creates. There’s something about charcoal that feels human — it can be delicate one second and dramatic the next, which honestly feels relatable.
My artistic practice explores themes of light, darkness, transformation and perception. I’m interested in how people emotionally respond to everyday subjects, whether that’s a flower, a shadow, a fragment of landscape or an ordinary household object.
See my main profile here.
I like creating work that rewards slow looking. The kind of work where details reveal themselves gradually rather than shouting for attention immediately.
Academically, I completed a PhD in Fine Arts at Aberystwyth University in Wales, alongside earlier studies at the University of Calgary, Alberta College of Art and Design and Cambridge University.
Research plays a huge role in my practice, but I never want the work to feel inaccessible or overly intellectual. At the end of the day, I care most about creating genuine emotional connection.
My work has been exhibited internationally across Canada, Europe and India, including exhibitions in Paris and Mumbai. Series such as Every Rose: A different Story, I Am... and Just a Moment continue my exploration of observation, memory and emotional presence.
I’m drawn to quiet moments, subtle shifts in light and the emotional significance people attach to objects and spaces. Contemporary life moves quickly enough already, so my work tends to resist that pace a little. I think there’s still value in slowing down long enough to actually notice things.
