From surf culture and FUEL TV to Algarve serenity, her work draws on a lifelong love of the ocean to create spontaneous, fluid and authentic pieces
The sea has always been part of Vilma Vicente’s life thanks to her childhood in Costa da Caparica and, later, during her teenage years, along the wild Vicentine coastline.
Born in Lisbon, she grew up spending summers in Sagres, where she camped and surfed with friends – a passion she inherited from her father, a surfer himself. She always had a fondness for painting, though for a long time she kept her works private.
Over the years, her love of the ocean merged with her artistic interests, and from that connection, she began creating acrylic paintings inspired by the sea.
“At first, I experimented with different ideas and techniques, and almost without realising it, I started following a certain style,” Vilma recalls.
Her early work ranged from abstract compositions to realistic scenes, but she soon realised she was more drawn to coastal landscapes and seascapes. She began experimenting with texture and materials, mixing sand into the paint to recreate the grain of the beach, or using shifts in temperature to mimic the effect of bubbles beneath the surface.
“I love getting my hands dirty, mixing the paints, and working with sensory techniques,” she explains, adding that she often mixes unconventional materials such as oils, silicone, and modelling paste.
Throughout her creative journey, Vilma learned that countless factors could influence the final result, from the temperature of the studio to the humidity levels.
Many times, her ideas took a different turn from what she’d imagined, but she learned to see that not as failure, but as something new. “Sometimes mistakes become the starting point for a new project,” she reflects. Whilst the ocean remains the central theme of her work, there are often figurative elements woven into this world, such as the “sea goddesses”.
Her paintings stand out not only for the movement of the water but for the sense of depth she achieves through her brushwork, a perspective shaped by her experience in freediving, spearfishing, and underwater photography with friends.
“The beach is a place that brings me peace and happiness. In difficult moments, it’s where I go to find calm and balance,” she says, noting that this habit has followed her through every stage of her life, from her early days in Costa da Caparica to her move to Sagres.
It was in the Algarve that she finally found the confidence to begin exhibiting and selling her work.
I want my paintings to convey a feeling of tranquillity, balance, and harmony; to inspire positive thoughts,” she explains.
With spontaneous and fluid artistry, using techniques that are difficult to master, she produces each unique and authentic piece, creating her own paintings and customised commissions, drawing on her education at Lisbon’s Faculty of Fine Arts, where she earned her degree in Art and Drawing.
Although the art world had always fascinated her, sports became a major focus once she completed her studies and her connections in that sphere led her to develop new professional skills.
She first worked as a reporter for the Extreme Sports Channel, and later as a presenter and producer for FUEL TV. Through her work, she covered international watersports events, and it was at one of these, in Viana do Castelo, that her life completely changed.
Seven years ago, she met her partner, a British native who was competing at a windsurfing competition she was working on. To meet in between their respective countries, they often chose the Algarve, drawn by its coastline and convenient travel links.
Over time, Sagres began to feel more and more like home, and in 2019, they made the move permanent. Here, Vilma found a sense of belonging among a close-knit community of artists of all ages and nationalities who share ideas and support each other’s work.
With two young daughters, she has learned to balance motherhood and creativity, adapting her routines and work days with patience and determination, which she admits has been a challenge, but one she embraces wholeheartedly.
Vilma also lends her skills to her partner’s Windsurf Channel on YouTube, using her experience in photography, video editing, and event production to help bring his content to life.
Art, however, remains her full-time job. Her paintings have gained recognition far beyond Portugal, with collectors in countries such as Germany, Spain, and the UK. She has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally – including in Marbella and at the Vision Art Expo, held in both Portugal and Spain.
In the Algarve, her creations can be admired at her own Wavi Art Studio in Sagres, as well as on her social media platforms, where she offers worldwide shipping.
Her paintings are also displayed at The Art Hive Gallery in Albufeira and at the restaurant Em Lume Brando in Salema, from March to October.
As she prepares to launch a new collection, inevitably inspired by the sea, using different materials and techniques from those she has presented so far, Vilma still wants to explore other concepts.
This time, she’s looking to develop her sculpting skills, an artistic field she studied at university. Her creative mind is also buzzing with ideas such as focusing on art that’s “a bit more three-dimensional”, she says, revealing that she has lots of plans that she’ll soon be putting into action.
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