Claire Giles

Artist Details

Artist Name: Claire Giles

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Biography

For as long as I can remember, I have loved to draw and paint and although I would have liked to have painted full-time, I decided to follow a career in Administration which would produce a guaranteed, regular income. I had painted only very occasionally as a hobby and for gifts for friends and family since studying art at college. However, since experiencing a change of life-style from full-time to part-time work in the last couple of years, I've had more time to concentrate on painting. For me, the main reason for selling my work is for the joy I get from knowing that someone likes my work enough to buy it and the thought of one of my paintings hanging on someone's wall for them to enjoy for years to come.

Inspiration

As a keen walker, my inspiration tends to come from the things I see when I am out walking my dog in the Wiltshire countryside and West Country coastline. It often feels that we have all four seasons in one day which is great for my art as I am drawn to cloudy, moody skies above rural aspects such as open fields, hill-tops and quiet beaches. I developed this fascination with skies and open spaces through my childhood in the flat fenlands of Lincolnshire and holidays along the North Norfolk coastline. I get a real sense of tranquility from just looking up and watching the clouds move across the sky. I particularly like the contrast of imposing clouds upon the calm landscape below, the relationship between the light of the sun and the shade that clouds create.

Style and technique

In my work, I try to convey the personal impression that I experience when selecting a subject. Often it is the simplest of views that create a real wow factor for me and I try to capture that spontaneity of feeling in my paintings. I use sketches, notes and photography at the start of a painting and progress to using memory and instinct to complete it. My work could be categorised as realism-impressionism. Although I like to include realistic detail in my paintings, I often add or take away small elements from the original subject to create more interest or atmosphere. I like to include only small signs of human activity - usually man-made structures and prefer not to include many people in my paintings so the viewer feels that the view could be for just for them; I'd like them to feel that they could step into the picture and imagine themselves within the scene. Working with professional quality Acrylics and mediums, I apply fairly fine brush strokes in several layers so my work is not overly textural or painterly, developing interest through little details, colour and tone. Acrylics are my main medium as I find to be more practical than oils; they dry quicker and are healthier to work with in my cosy, little summerhouse studio. Cleaning of equipment is also easier and possibly kinder to the environment.

Commissions

I take commissions - perhaps a favourite view or you walking in the distance on your favourite beach? A painting of a favourite place makes an excellent,unique wedding, birthday or leaving present. please contact me if you would like to discuss this idea further.

Exhibitions

2011
Group Exhibition - The Gallery, Malmesbury Town Hall

2012
Solo Exhibition - The Old Mill Gallery, Worton near Devizes

2013
Solo Exhibition - Right Angle Framing, Corsham, Wiltshire (details to follow)

Future Exhibitions: