Carrie (b. 1971) is originally from Canada (of British and Hungarian descent) and lives and works just south of London where she has a large, light-filled studio.
After a marketing career in the music industry, Carrie began to study art, initially with tutors on a one to one basis and then by experiencing various forms of experimental painting and drawing in many short courses. This led to two years of study at the more formal Heatherley School of Fine Art in London and eventually a Post Graduate Diploma in Visual Arts through University of Sussex.
I use various media to create abstract works with colour, light and tonal gradation key elements to my work. I incorporate a layering process, celebrating the varying brush marks and luminosity of paint, resulting in a happening of sorts and, at times, results that are unforeseen but very much celebrated. There are moments when I’m in charge and others where I feel the brush is guiding my hand and I’m the watcher.
I work swiftly, making initial decisions on format, scale and palette, however, the latter will inevitably morph during the process. I make marks with an exploratory edge and each may or may not lead to the next. One stroke of the brush and something fragile and beautiful can be lost. Conversely, rapid movement without conscious thought can reveal something serendipitous and perfect and it’s vital for me to recognise both.
I endeavour to create imagery that is both compelling and ambiguous, always with a sense of light. There is, at times, a relationship with the landscape whilst not being site specific. My palette is made up of deep organic hues, the language of nature, with many of my pieces expressing a purely abstract aesthetic. There is a balance between expressionism and informed thought.
Carrie’s work is held in private collections worldwide. She has shown in many exhibitions, solo and group, including being selected 3 times to date for The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Carrie has also been commissioned to create a number of pieces that hang in hotels, restaurants and other commercial premises around the world.
