Hello

I’m Charlotte, a self-taught artist, and I paint from my home studio in Wiltshire, where I live with my husband, son and English Bulldog Peggy.

My story

Probably not the traditional route to becoming an artist. However,  acquiring some brushes and a tin of watercolours following a family garage sort out is where my painting story began.

Despite a love for sewing tapestry and cross stitch samplers in my teens and twenties, and preferring coursework projects at school over exams, I was never that self-aware to think I was creative back then.  Instead I played to what I believed were my strengths, studied sciences and pursued a nursing career.

Creativity only crept back into my life in my 40’s.  I’d had a career, and was a stay at home Mum.  I started on a personal development journey to discover the things that were truly me.

I first wrote a personal blog, which then offered an opportunity to write creatively for local small businesses. I wrote poetry and positive affirmations alongside this, which I then created into prints and postcards.  This then lead on to me making beautiful handmade cards and gifts.

As I learnt more about myself, I discovered what creative pursuits made me feel alive, and having dabbled a little with the watercolour paints I was gifted, I knew I wanted to explore painting more.

Taking my first art course in my mid 40’s was when my painting story really got going.   It wasn’t so much about learning how to paint, more learning to give myself permission to go for it and try!

Discovering that it was as simple as saying yes to doing something I was excited about, was life-altering.

Painting sparked something in me from the start.  It not only brought a sense of calm (a meditation almost,) it was something I immediately felt aligned with.

I can lose hours painting now and never feel depleted or tired.  Painting re-charges me, and being creative is now a fundamental part of my every day life.

My art practice & inspiration

I paint intuitively, which for me means to paint with no fixed plan.  The intention is always to explore, experiment and see where the painting leads me.

With no formal art education, I seek out the things that light me up and give me excited butterflies.  If when I’m painting, these things aren’t happening, I often down tools, put the kettle on, and give it some space.   Sometimes I can come back and move it forward, and sometimes my gut feeling is to simply move on, and try something different.

Making time to pause and reflect is something I value greatly and integral to my art making process.  It’s how I learn, and discern what I love and equally what doesn’t bring me joy.   Making mistakes, failing, and making ugly paintings are a regular occurrence in my studio, and I don’t shy away from them either.  They are such a valuable learning tool too.

My artwork is inspired by the natural landscape around where I live.

Although I don’t paint realistically, it is not unusual for me to be painting and for a clump of trees or a path or gateway to appear somewhere in my mark making, even if it’s in a sub layer.  My inspiration comes from the shape, line and features within the landscape.  As well  as the colour palette and seasonal changes.

I favour a limited palette.

Gravitating towards soft muted tones, I tend to move between working with watercolour and acrylic paints.  I also like to use charcoal, pencil and oil pastels in my pieces.

I’m still discovering my preferences when it comes to materials and surfaces and don’t ever want that curiosity to dwindle.  It fuels my development as an artist and I’m continuously learning and growing with every painting I make.

Experiment, play and explore.

Embracing a childlike enthusiasm to give things a try without fear or judgement of the outcome has been key.  It is often when I’m not precious about the direction in which a painting is going that “happy accidents” lead to finds.  It’s when a piece can take on a completely new path.

A valuable lesson has been to embrace the ebbs and flow of my own creativity.

Although I’m in my studio most days, there are periods of quiet when I don’t paint.  I have learnt to cherish these times.  They’re an important step in my process.  Whether it’s to give work in progress time to breathe, so I can step back and consider the next move.  Or to create some headspace for ideas and inspiration to come to the surface.

Creativity isn’t something I switch on only when I want to paint.

It’s something that is within me.  It’s an awareness that I carry with me throughout my everyday life.  Whether it’s noticing the changes of the seasons, or the colours in the landscape.  It’s the reason why my camera roll is so full.  I am always stopping to capture images when I am out walking across the fields, to bring back to the studio and inspire my work.

I regularly share my adventures with painting on Instagram, and by doing so I hope I inspire others dreaming of picking up a brush or returning to a passion they once had later in life, because it’s never to late to start!

Beyond the studio

I love to read, practice yoga and walk Peggy our English Bulldog up the hill and across the fields.