Diana Beltran Herrera

Paper artist

A cosmopolitan approach to paper art

Diana was born in Colombia and has lived in several other cultures which inspire her craft
She builds her pieces with a combination of digital and manual techniques
Besides paper, she uses mount board, wood and wire

Diana Beltran Herrera began her journey with paper art in Colombia, where she obtained a Bachelor's in Industrial Design. “At university in Colombia, we worked a lot with all kinds of materials at the design school. Part of designing was being able to prototype ideas and create models that could reflect what we were thinking,” she explains. “After I graduated from university, I moved to Finland for six months to work in the atelier of a Froese artist. I wanted to experience the artist's life and see if I could pursue that path myself. When I came back to Colombia, it clicked for me, and I set up my own studio in my parents' warehouse. I started working full-time on creating sculptures out of paper." Diana also holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from the University of the West of England.

Interview

How does being Colombian living abroad influence your work?: Colombian culture is very resourceful, and I have always operated in this way. The fact that I chose to work with paper and simple materials comes from this culture of immediacy, creating and transforming what is around and abundant, using materials that are discarded by others and learning to transform them.
Has your process changed now that you live in the UK?: I have many friends here who provide me with materials that they no longer need, so I have created a supply chain from paper companies, printers and framers, and I transform their waste. I also work with beautiful local papers and, depending on the project, have to create my own finishes and purchase specific types of paper.
What function does technology have in your work?: I am very knowledgeable about both handcraft techniques and digital techniques, and I combine both in my work. I can work as a digital illustrator or designer to create concept art, define colours, determine sizes and ways to construct a work, and I can also use all that information to bring it to the physical space. I can transform simple flat sheets of paper into 3D objects.
What do you enjoy most about your work?: The challenges that come from working with such a complex material that is very fragile and stiff to transform. Once you find new ways and techniques and start applying them to the medium, you can see how to find solutions to problems.

Diana Beltran Herrera is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2010 and she started teaching in 2020