Contemporary artist
Charlotte creates uplifting abstract landscapes & seascapes which hope to inspire a moment of curiosity, tranquillity or escapism in your day. Her dreamscape paintings are characterised by soft expressive marks in a fresh colour palette which reflect her soulful, meditative approach to painting
"I encourage you to breathe deep and lose yourself in the storytelling of my paintings which hint at a captured breath, an enchanted love, a rising sense of magic, the spirit of the shoreline or our connection with nature."
Nestled at the bottom of her garden amongst the trees, flowers and birds, Charlotte’s summerhouse studio is an oasis of calm with soft pink walls and bright sunlight streaming in through the French doors.
A quiet space in which to slow down and immerse herself in the intuitive painting process of responding to colour and flow of thoughts or emotions with expressive marks and clear colours. Charlotte especially loves the therapeutic nature of journaling with paint to mindfully express herself in this way. Her peaceful, dreamy compositions mirror the personal sense of harmony she achieves through painting.
Subtle loose marks and blended cloudy layers create an uplifting feel which is juxtaposed with the tension of etched lines and written words which form layers of colour and interest. As each body of work develops, she allows music, stories, photography and films of a similar theme to further inspire her work thus allowing new stories to unfold and the paintings to create their own narrative for you to explore.
Where one series works with warmer or vibrant tones, the next will usually be more muted or cooler in hue ensuring there’s something to capture everyone’s imagination.
British born, Charlotte has lived abroad & travelled extensively whilst growing up which has informed her cosmopolitan, open minded and soulful outlook on life. She qualified with a BA (hons) in Fashion Design from Winchester School of Art, Southampton University in 2000 and followed an exciting career in high end womens’ fashion until 2019. Charlotte now enjoys running her art practice full time in the Forest of Dean, spending most of her time painting and offers tuition and freelance Marketing, PR and Copy for local artists and art galleries. Despite her busy family life, you’ll also find her volunteering as Marketing Lead for the farOpen organisation, making costumes for the Monnow Ballet Company performances and teaching as a Racing Coach for young sailors at local sailing clubs.
Charlotte’s work is shown in UK galleries within various group exhibitions, during farOpen Open Studios Art Trail and has work in private collections here and in the USA.
What other's say:
“ YOUR WORK IS SO CALMING AND UPLIFTING” LESLEY
“ I CAN FEEL SO MUCH PEACE WHILELOOKING AT YOUR PIECES. 🕊“ KESIA
“BEAUTIFUL! YOUR ARTWORK IS MAGICAL AND SOOO DREAMY” JAN
then evolve with feeling...
After a short upbringing in Tunisia then Scotland, we moved to the north east of Italy where I grew up spending many days on the long sandy beaches and immersing myself in a beautiful country which became my first school, second home and second language. I have many fond memories from this time which have shaped my outlook on life.
My mother, a teacher with a zest for life, took us many places to explore and take part in all sorts of activities. We took part in Italian festivtes, admired the mosaics of Ravenna, the canals & winding streets of Venice, the old cities of Firenze, Rome and Milan , the quieter countryside further south and went skiing in the Alps. We learnt how to make traditional Easter eggs in the local chocolate factory, saw glass blowing in Venice and traipsed around many ruins, churches and palazzi learning all about the history and art.
When I was ten, we relocated back to Scotland where I spend the next 5 years before moving out to Texas in USA where I spent a year in High School. Upon returning to the UK, I attended Aberdeen College of Art to obtain a Foundation degree in Art and Design where I trained in a variety of disciplines before being accepted at Winchester School of Art to complete a BA in Fashion Design.
I then spent the following 20 years in the fashion industry after launching my own award winning fashion label which showed on the catwalk biannually during London Fashion Week. My womenswear collections were sold through high end boutiques across the UK & USA. I also had the privilege of designing the most gorgeous couture bridal gowns and bespoke womenswear for some very lovely ladies and celebrities, really allowing my imagination and pattern cutting skills full expression.
Following the birth of my daughter, I restructured my business to focus on maternity and nursingwear (breastfeeding clothes) to meet the demand for flattering, stylish clothes for the modern nursing mum. This range still sells through my Etsy shop under the name BreastfeedWithEase and here after winning a Dragons Den Style competition at The Baby Show for Trade and selling through NCT and other nursery boutiques in the UK.
Fast forward ten years on to January 2018, I felt a calling to return to my roots and explore my passion for painting from my college years. I knew that I didn't want to return to representational art so I took an online course with Californian artist Devon Walz called Creativity Unleashed. This intensive, soulful course introduced me to intuitive abstract painting, helping me to develop skills to express my inner voice.
From there I was able to continue developing my own style and unique painting techniques for creating dreamy paintings. I now exhibit within local art galleries and at art events and look forward each year to opening my studio for the farOpen Art Trail which runs in July.
Although each series of paintings has a common theme and colour palette (a remnant of my fashion days), I never set out with a speicifc vision, only a feeling which then has the freedom to flow onto canvas in it's own way. I scribble down my thoughts, cover them with paint, paint out my emotions with marks and textures... I simply follow the prompts and clues mindfully until a pleasing composition has been reached. Only then do I realise what I have created - so the final pieces are just as much of a surprise and delight to me as they are to you!
With the confidence and skill in my own unique painting style, I am now offering art workshops so that you too, can learn the therapeutic benefits of painting your heart out. Click here for current info on art courses.
