Originally from Northampton, England, Claire says she always knew she’d be an artist. After a two-year Arts Foundation Diploma, begun when she was only 16, Claire studied Fashion and Textiles at John Moore’s University in Liverpool, gaining a BA Honours degree.
“It was also where I began to see how artists can make a living through art; that became my business model if you like.” Later, Claire travelled extensively, collecting textiles, objects, ideas and inspiration from many countries. “Travel has always inspired me” she says. “I love to wake up in a new place and absorb all the unfamiliar sounds and scents – as well as the different light and colours. Although my artistic influences are mainly European – I love the Pre-Raphaelites, Klimt, Schiele and the moody landscapes of Turner – I find myself gravitating to places like Bali and the Pacific Islands for fresh inspiration. I need to be near the sea.” Claire’s early work included embroidered collages of faded sepia photographs set in decayed environments. These were exhibited in galleries and museums around the UK, including a solo show at the Bankfield Museum in Halifax. During that time, her work was exhibited and sold in Craft Council UK galleries and shops.
See more about Claire here.
