In the seven years since Octavia Campbell-Davys made Mallorca her home, her art has emerged as a unique window into the island's hidden soul. While others might marvel at the grandeur of Mallorca's iconic landmarks or the buzz of its beaches, Octavia focuses her gaze on the unnoticed: the quiet play of shadows on ancient stone buildings, the soft ripple of water over pebbles, or the fleeting moments of life that define the island’s spirit.
“It’s about capturing what most passersby might miss,” Octavia explains. This attention to detail—this ability to see angles in the architecture and beauty in the everyday—has set her work apart.
Though her family’s locations are global, spanning Portugal, the UK, Zambia, and Hungary, Octavia's heart firmly belongs to Mallorca. "This island is not only my home," she says. "It’s where I fell ill, and where I healed. My relationship with Mallorca is one of profound gratitude."
In 2023, Octavia faced a life-altering diagnosis of leukemia, spending 250 days in isolation at Son Espases Hospital. During this challenging period, when she was strong enough, she turned to her canvases and paintbrushes. Through her vivid imagination and memories of Mallorca’s luminous blues, golden sunlight, and tactile beauty, she transported herself beyond the hospital walls. "In those moments, I could feel the sun on my skin, the warmth of the rocks beneath my feet, and hear the gentle lapping of the waves. The island healed me, and my art did too."
Now in recovery, Octavia has returned to her beloved Mallorca with an insatiable thirst for life and creativity. She spends her days exploring the island’s lesser-known corners, seeking out its quiet magic. From fishermen pulling in their catch to the delicate interplay of light and shadow across a family on the beach, her work captures the Mallorca many miss.
Her inspirations are as diverse as her background. Deeply influenced by Edward Hopper’s atmospheric realism and David Hockney’s clean, effective simplicity, Octavia brings a timeless quality to her work. “If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint,” Hopper once said—a sentiment Octavia fully embraces. "Some emotions, some moments, are so fleeting and profound that only art can capture them," she reflects.
Locally, she finds muse in the shifting dynamics of mass tourism, the symmetry of old and new world buildings, and the organic flow of natural forms. She collects vintage postcards from the early days of Mallorcan tourism and draws inspiration from Slim Aarons’ glamorous, sun-soaked photographs.
But above all, her greatest muse is Mallorca itself: its interplay of natural and man-made beauty. She is endlessly fascinated by the way the island’s ancient architecture harmonizes with its vibrant landscapes—the arches of a cathedral mirroring the curve of a nearby bay, or a modernist building set against the jagged peaks of the Tramuntana mountains. "I never tire of the beauty of this island," she says. "Every day, there’s a moment—a family laughing by the sea, the way a shadow stretches across a building, the way the sunlight plays on a dry stone wall—that takes my breath away."
Art runs in Octavia’s blood. With a mother who worked as a curator and several relatives in creative fields, her upbringing was steeped in a love and appreciation for the arts. "Painting has always been a part of my life," she reflects. "It feels as natural to me as breathing."
Today, her art acts as a bridge between her personal journey and the island that has embraced her so fully. It invites viewers to see Mallorca not just as a destination but as a living, breathing tapestry of light, color, and life.
For Octavia Campbell-Davys, Mallorca is far more than a home—it’s a sanctuary, a canvas, and a constant source of inspiration. “Mallorca gave me more than I ever imagined. It gave me strength, healing, and endless beauty to capture. I will never stop finding something new to admire every single day.”
Lydia Hopkins, written for the Islander Magazine
Recent Activity
Selected to be in the final for the Artists of Mallorca competition:
https://www.artistsofmallorca.com/art-prize-2022
Chosen to take part in the "imaginar el Mar" exhibition for charity:
https://www.arteinformado.com/agenda/f/convocatoria-de-ayudas-a-10-artistas-visuales-para-el-proyecto-expositivo-imaginar-el-mar-217368
Invited to take part in the Trobat 2022:
https://www.trobat.co/experiences/
Interviewed for IB3:
https://ib3.org/?p=426364
Interviewed by Mallorcan Daily Bulletin
