Bio
Maria Belderbos is an artist whose work is all about seeing and celebrating people through creativity.
Winner of the Sworders’ Prize Emerging Artist, with her Self-Portrait, “At Home”, Maria received the opportunity to hold an exhibition in Fairhurst Gallery in September 2024 – her debut showing of a larger body of work. Since then, her art has featured in a variety of shows, including the Royal Society of British Artists’ Rising Stars 2025 exhibition, taking place at the Royal Overseas League in Mayfair.
Alongside her visual art, Maria is also a writer and photographer, and bases this wider creative practice around the same concept of seeing slowly, looking deeply.
Now studying a BA in Creative Writing and English Literature, Maria continues to develop her creative practice: taking commissions, teaching classes and exhibiting in galleries and shows. Her interdisciplinary body of work is ever-growing and always centred upon creativity celebrating people.
Exhibitions
05/25 – 06/25 Royal Society of British Artists’ Rising Stars Exhibition, Mayfair London
04/25 YNCA Exhibition, Norwich
03/25 Jane Austen College Charity Exhibition and Auction, Norwich
08/24 – 09/24 Sworders Emerging Artist Winners Exhibition, Fairhurst Gallery, Norwich
08/24 Volunteers’ Exhibition, Anteros Arts Foundation, Norwich
04/24 Portrait of Us, The Bank Gallery, Eye, Suffolk
11/23 Emerge, The Undercroft, Norwich
10/23 – 11/23 Love is the Meaning (Celebrating Julian of Norwich’s 650th Anniversary), St Stephen’s Church, Norwich
09/23 – 10/23 Open Studios, Anteros Art Foundation, Norwich
07/23 Holt Arts Festival, Manor Farm Barns, Glandford, Norfolk
06/23 The Summer Open, The Assembly House, Norwich
04/23 The Spring Arts Show, The Forum, Norwich
07/21 Holt Art Festival, St Andrew’s Church, Holt, Norfolk
11/20 Positive View Foundation, Digital Exhibition, UK
Awards
2025 – Royal Society of British Artists Rising Star
https://rosl.org.uk/rba-rising-stars-2025/
07/24 – Longlisted for the Women in Art Prize 2024
11/23 – 07/24 Winner of the Escalator Writers’ Mentorship Programme at the National Centre for Writing (as Chiara Sandes)
07/23 Winner of the Sworders Prize Emerging Artist 2023
https://holtfestival.org/art-prizes-2023/
07/21 Shortlisted for the Sworders Prize Young Artist
06/21 Shortlisted in Norwich University’s Art and Design Competition
11/20 Highly Commended in ‘Lockdown: Taking a Positive View’ National Photography Competition
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-54782314
03/20 Grand Finalist and speaker at Cambridge University in the ARTiculation National Speaking Competition
Workshops
08/25 – Intro to Watercolour Painting at Sakura Studio Gallery.
https://www.sakurastudiogallery.shop/event-details/intro-to-watercolour-painting
05/25 – 06/25 – Tutoring bespoke art lessons with a home education collective.
09/24 – A heritage-themed watercolour workshop at Anteros Arts Foundation, instructing on the principals of the medium, using this to explore the beauty of the historic building.
https://www.anterosfoundation.com/event-details/norwich-in-watercolour