“There’s drama in art”

Introducing Stephanie Rew.

Based in Leith, Edinburgh, Stephanie is a celebrated artist who has shown her work all over the world. Just as it takes patience to age whisky, Stephanie’s use of the ancient water gilding technique forces her to slow down and take time. Disappearing when touched, the gold leaf she uses is like dust and has a divine quality, it’s a process that takes years to master.

A Challenging Stare

Stephanie’s reimagining of the iconic Hedonism woman subverts the artist-muse relationship. For so long, women in paintings were passive, to be gazed upon. But in Stephanie’s reimagining, she stares directly at us. Both feminine and powerful.

Over the years, almost every bottle of Hedonism has featured the same female form, originally from a ​​late 19th century English painting. While Stephanie of course took inspiration from this, her challenge was to create something individual, yet distinctly Compass Box. In an interview with Barley Magazine, she explains “I wanted it to stay like the original Hedonism woman but make it my own and make it modern – I believe in this strength in femininity and I like painting the direct gaze, as its challenging to the viewer and it’s a conversation starter.”

Gilded In Gold

There are very few artists who combine ancient techniques with modern painting. Stephanie’s use of water gilding with the incredibly delicate gold leaf utilises a technique which hasn’t changed in 800 years.

The process is laborious. Before Stephanie gilts the elements destined for an adornment of gold leaf, she must first build a gesso, adding up to 25 layers of it to a wooden panel, before sanding it back to create a smooth, marble-like finish. She then adds intricate detail, marking the surface with an engraving tool before the gold leaf is added.

Hedonism: From Grain to Gold

Stephanie’s subtle nod to the history of Compass Box sits in the background of the artwork. Gilded in gold leaf, our Hedonism woman is surrounded by a smattering of stars and constellations, the most significant being Pyxis Nautica. It was this very constellation that Compass Box was named after and serves as a reminder of the past as we enter this new era of Hedonism.

If you haven’t seen it already, our short documentary From Grain to Gold charts the process of working with Stephanie to create this incredible piece of art, Compass Box’s journey over the years and the history of Hedonism.

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