ABOUT
Natalie is deeply influenced by nature, and the interconnectedness of things. She is fascinated by the beauty and diversity of life on this planet and draws inspiration from the cycles of life, growth, decay and transformation.
She understands that all life on this planet is delicately woven together; each life linked to many others via a complex web of relationships.
Whether via her abstract paintings or immersive installations, Natalie’s work offers the audience a moment to suspend the thinking mind and sink into feeling.
The thread that runs through all her work is the intention to honestly see the world we live in now, and offer a reflection of possibility. Though we are aware that humans have created many problematic systems which are now negatively impacting so much of our world, the creative potential of humans is still a guiding light, showing us that we can also be the architects of the solutions.
Bio
Natalie (b. 1980) is a regenerative designer, artist and natural builder. Born in the UK, she is Thai / British and now lives and works in Northern Thailand.
In her role as regenerative designer, Natalie works with communities, organisations and individuals to create solutions which are socially, economically and ecologically positive. She is passionate about contributing to a more beautiful world in harmony with nature.
She is a lifelong artist and has been creating since early childhood. Her daily painting practice is her way to stay connected to herself whilst witnessing what is happening to our planet without losing hope.
Natalie works on paper and canvas using mixed media, collage and hand stitching. She also creates in earth, bamboo and fabric and has built large scale site specific installations in Thailand and Vietnam, for music and art festivals as well as private residences, galleries and community projects.
She believes in the inter-being of life, beautifully described here by Thich Nhat Hanh:
“If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow: and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not here, the sheet of paper cannot be here either. So we can say that the cloud and the paper inter-are.
“Interbeing” is a word that is not in the dictionary yet, but if we combine the prefix “inter” with the verb “to be”, we have a new verb, inter-be. Without a cloud, we cannot have paper, so we can say that the cloud and the sheet of paper inter-are.
If we look into this sheet of paper even more deeply, we can see the sunshine in it. If the sunshine is not there, the forest cannot grow. In fact nothing can grow. Even we cannot grow without sunshine. And so, we know that the sunshine is also in this sheet of paper. The paper and the sunshine inter-are. And if we continue to look we can see the logger who cut the tree and brought it to the mill to be transformed into paper. And we see the wheat. We know that the logger cannot exist without his daily bread, and therefore the wheat that became his bread is also in this sheet of paper. And the logger’s father and mother are in it too. When we look in this way we see that without all of these things, this sheet of paper cannot exist.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
EXHIBITions:
2025
‘Threads to the Present’ Exhibition
Pongnoi Community Art Space, Chiang Mai
Solo exhibition
2024
‘Counting Creativity’ Exhibition
La Bonita, Chiang Mai
Solo exhibition
‘Adaptations’ Exhibition
Solo exhibition
2022
‘Going without Looking’ Exhibition
Duo exhibition with Christopher Stern.
‘Tangled’ A journey into plastic pollution Exhibition
Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre BACC
Group exhibition in collaboration with Environmental Justice Foundation and Love Wildlife Foundation.
2020
‘Attached’ Exhibition.
DuDD Studio, Koh Chang, Thailand.
Exhibition of Collaborative works created with Chanon Chanpanao (see his portfolio of exhibitions at http://duddproject.blogspot.com/).
‘Universal’ Acrylic on wood
‘Between’ Earth plaster
As well as Solo exhibition of Natalie Limwatana watercolour series ‘networks interior’
‘KruengBin’ Art Installation
Large scale bamboo sculpture
2019
‘Guardian’ Bamboo sculpture
Quest Festival. Hanoi, Vietnam
‘Kra gen’ Bamboo sculpture
Jai Thep Music and Arts Festival. Chiang Mai, Thailand.
‘Luuk Hai’ Bamboo sculpture
Blue Lagoon resort. Koh Chang, Thailand
2018
‘Lan na’ Bamboo sculpture
Jai Thep Music and Arts Festival. Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Press:
Awards and Grants:
Pardicolor 2020 granteee
Awarded to support ‘Under the See’ am art installation focusing on endangered marine species in Thailand.
Under the See: Dugong installation made with bamboo and discarded fishing nets will be exhibited as part of ‘Tangled’ group exhibit at BACC, February 2022
Residencies:
2222: Bangkok 1899, Bangkok, Thailand
2020: Du DD Studio, Koh Chang, Thailand.
Education:
1997 – 1999
The Arts Institute, Bournemouth (now Arts University Bournemouth )
Natural History Illustration (National Diploma)
Artist statement:
“All of my work (artistic and regenerative) is focused on the connections between things.
Eventually we understand every life form is interconnected to every other form of life on this planet. We are a part of a whole. Life is holistic.
It is my sincere wish to support the creation of systems which allow all life to flourish on our planet, which I do through my work with many networks including Global Ecovillage Network, Gaia Education and Ecoversities. I feel that a large part of my role is to share regenerative ideas across worlds, helping to bridge disciplines and seed ideas. “