Artist
About
The Artist
Fallen Embers is the artistic practice of Northern Irish artist Vicki McCorkell, working primarily in dark realism and surrealism through the medium of pyrography.
Using heat rather than paint, Vicki creates highly detailed original artworks by burning directly into wood. Her work explores mythology, folklore, nature, the subconscious and the darker edges of the human imagination.
There is often something unsettling beneath the surface, themes of transformation, identity, fear, memory and the unknown recurring throughout her work.
Working with Fire & Wood
Pyrography became part of Vicki’s artistic journey in 2024. What began as an exploration of a new medium quickly developed into a fascination with what could be achieved through heat, patience and a piece of wood.
Rather than treating wood as simply a blank canvas, Vicki works with its natural character, grain and imperfections, allowing the material to influence the finished artwork. Every mark is made by hand, building depth and contrast through thousands of individual burns.
The permanence of the process is an important part of the work. Unlike paint, the image isn’t sitting on the surface, it becomes part of the wood itself.
The Work
Fallen Embers encompasses both individual works and evolving bodies of work, with recurring ideas and imagery connecting pieces across different series.
From dreamlike and surreal imagery to mythology, creatures and darker explorations of the human experience, the work is deliberately atmospheric and invites the viewer to look beyond the obvious.
And there is one small detail hidden throughout the work.
Every piece contains at least one tiny eye.
You may not notice it at first.
Look closer.
