Elizabeth Akehurst always draws on particular experiences, such as meals with friends, watching builders and decorators at work or going to concerts.

The paintings arise slowly out of a long period of work. Initially rapid, preliminary studies are made in pen, ink or watercolour. The sketches, which are sometimes supplemented by photographs, are used to produce a large number of small pieces exploring compositional forms, colour and tone. Some of these may develop into larger watercolour, gouache or collage works.

Paint is applied using a range of brushes, rollers or even a palette knife. Additional line is added, a vital compositional element in the work, with charcoal, oil pastel or the end of the brush. Texture and depth is created in planes; drawing the paint forwards or backwards animates the surface.