Elaine Pamphilon paints everyday objects, souvenirs from her travels, patterned fabrics and scenes observed from her surroundings. From her house and studio, she paints the distant views of boats, sea and shorelines and interior views with flowers, pebbles and shells, mugs and bowls on table tops. She works on canvas, board and paper using mixed media. Her painting career began in the mid 1980s at Homerton College, Cambridge where she studied under Kay Melzi.
Pamphilon is also a harpist, and divides her time between art and music. She studied with David Watkins, principal harpist at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and in Paris with Solange Renie-Siguret. After obtaining a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London she received lessons from the famous Welsh harpist Ossian Ellis. Both musical and literary references can be found in her paintings and drawings.