How we met?Annie and Anna: We came across Charlotte's work at the Battersea Decorative Art and Antiques Fair in 2017.
One of her mono prints jumped out at us and we were instantly keen to find out more about the Charlotte. We subsequently visited Charlotte at her studio in Cambridge and fell in love with her work.
Charlotte: I have always taken inspiration from personal experiences, often during travel abroad. Over the past few years I have also worked from themes developed from closer to home; trips to the Lake District, visits to the east coast. Using photographs and painted studies as a starting point, my compositions then become abstracted. I am particularly interested in using colour to engage and excite the eye, communicating something of the wonder of our world!
I use acrylic paint for my paintings, building up numerous layers of poured paint in thin veils, which contrast with more thickly applied paint. This layering often results in a raised surface on the canvas. My paintings take about 8-10 weeks to make.
Making prints has always excited, engaged and intrigued me. I feel that the different techniques of printmaking have deeply informed my practice as an artist, not only through creating editions of prints and making mono prints, but also by influencing and shaping my approach to painting.
My editioned prints are all Limited Edition Original prints. Every colour in each print has been printed from a stencil made from a hand painted mark. They only exist in the printed form. They have not been copied from an ’original’.
What was the trigger that got you into art?Charlotte: My parents were both art teachers and still make their own work, so I grew up surrounded by art - hanging on the walls at home, visiting art galleries and museums at the weekends, and so I guess it was always in my blood!
What inspires you?
Charlotte: Travel abroad has always been a great source of inspiration to me, most recently Marrakesh, but also finding places full of colour and atmosphere closer to home.
What about the creative process excites you the most?
Charlotte: Seeing an idea, or a feeling, become something tangible and visible is always very extraordinary.
Are there any artists who have influenced you over the years?
Charlotte: Artists working with colour have always been an inspiration to me, from the American Abstract Expressionists, through to Modern British artists such as John Holland, Howard Hodgkin, Albert Irvin, Barbara Rae.
How have you developed your style as an artist?
Charlotte: I specialised in printmaking during my degree and postgraduate studies, and I believe that printmaking has informed the way I make images.
Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?
Charlotte: Radio 4 playing in the background seems to be essential..!
We have a selection of Charlotte's work at our Open House 2019. 11am-6pm, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May and then again the following weekend 18th and 19th May 2019. AB Design and Interiors, 93 Woodwarde Road, Dulwich, SE22 8UL.
Do try and pop in as we would love to see you or equally let us know if you would prefer to pop at some stage during the week.
For more of Charlotte's work do visit her website or follow her on instagram @cornish_charlotte
