Hello, I’m Charlotte
Thank you for visiting my profile page.
I was much encouraged by the email which arrived in April starting -
“Dear Artist, Many thanks for registering to take part in this year's Worcestershire Open Studios. We have reviewed your application and are pleased to confirm that it has been accepted…”
And here I have been given the space to tell you more about myself, both as an artist and in general, so you’ll know if you’d like to visit my open studio in Welland in August, and also the studios of the three other artists in our village. From my arrival at Little Croft in Warwickshire to now, at Bidders Croft in Worcestershire, I’ve lived in several places.
However, since this is meant to be mostly about my art, earliest memories include painting 'en plein air' in Henley in Arden (the Hurst House copper beech, and cows) and Christmas card competitions at boarding school in Surrey: there I followed up art O level with a term of A levels before bunking off to Italy. For three months in Florence, via friends in Turin, I learnt Italian at the British Institute and pretended to study History of Art. This was the start of many Italian escapades from life in London.
Fast forward to May 2019 and ColourWheel art classes in Worcestershire, including lessons in Lockdown via Zoom, which helped me stay sane and focussed.
It’s hard to pinpoint my most favourite medium as I have, by turns, a passion for pencils, pastels and painting in acrylics. But I also enjoy the feeling of freedom charcoal, ink and biro scribbles bring: I just love the learning and connecting with others who share my commitment and enthusiasm to keep a balance in life. Through my art I pay more attention to the present moment – ‘tis good for mind, body and spirit – and over the past four years I’ve created quite a body of work (A5, A4, A3) both in class and in my workroom.
Wanting my own enjoyment of drawing and painting to help others somehow, I designed a project in Lockdown which I call ‘Postcards for Friends’ – cards made from my own artwork. My chosen charity is Family Action which seems to follow on well after the many Family Caring parenting programmes I’ve facilitated over the years. More recently, inspired by Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, I also made some ‘iconic’ greeting cards from my paintings to raise funds for St Wulstan’s at Little Malvern.
Although I am a little bit anxious, I’m excited to be part of Worcestershire Open Studios in August 2023 and looking forward to meeting you and other local friends. We will be open on six days, the dates and times of which can be found on my pages here on the WOS website. So do come and see what's what here in Welland, including my drawings, sketches, paintings, prints and cards.
OVER THE YEARS
This makes more sense if you start at the end ...
2023
These days, in between work, rest and play, I may be found sketching and painting in my studio, aka the workroom, or in the garden - except on Tuesdays when I’m at the lovely local art class. Bill and I run our small family business from our home here in rural Worcestershire. For more visit www.thelittleleatherboxcompany.co.uk
2021
Malvern Wells Village Fete – the ColourWheel Art Exhibition tent
And Save Malvern Hills College - the Postcard Protest (‘Cacti’ and ‘Hollyhocks’)
2020 – 21
Drawing on Experience: The Power of Art, from the Heart - Time to Change Worcestershire (my listening Hare featured in their booklet)
2019 – 20
Designed a project to benefit the national charity Family Action’s FamilyLine - ‘Postcards for Friends’
Their (royal) patron had ordered a good many of our personalised presents. So I felt that one good turn deserved another! You can find out more at bit.ly/postcards4friends
2019 – ongoing
Stanbrook Abbey (later Malvern Abbey Hotel) where I joined the first ColourWheel Art Class
1995 – 2018
We moved after 30 years in London back to my husband’s native Worcestershire and INPO, I became an art re-starter at Malvern School of Art, joined the class of Gerald Savine plus some ‘art therapy’ in Edgbaston Priory c.2005
1974 – 95
London – had two babies (1974-75), raised the children, did up 2 houses (an art form), fundraised for Cancer Research, divorced (1984), working too, while also training as a volunteer relationship counsellor; happily remarried in 1988; started a design and retail business, demolished and rebuilt Bill’s family home in Worcestershire – formerly the brick tent (sorry Bill) now Bidders Croft mark II
1966 – 74
London working (how I wish I had a PA as good as I used to be), made time for an evening class (oil painting) at Brackenbury School in 1973, while taking breaks in Italy to catch up with friends, and of course, to admire the art
1964 – 66
Oxford - no time for art, just the best PA training, then into the world of work
1964
Florence - British Institute (Italian adventures continue to this day, Sardinia beckons for September)
1958 – 63
St Teresa’s, Effingham – remembering Christmas card competitions (winner), Art O level and one term of A levels including Art and History of Art + History and French
1956 – 2003
Family moved to Arrow in Warwickshire – happy lazing on the lawn sketching the house, an old rectory
1952 – 58
First school was Hurst House, Henley in Arden – memories of painting the copper beech and cows
1947 – 56
Born at Little Croft in Wootton Wawen – I’ve unearthed a vintage (1950) photo of the young artist at work (see it at Studio BC)
Themes:
My family and other animals and birds, feast days and flowers, plants, places and panoramas, seascapes, sunsets, space and still life
So do come and see what's what here in Welland, including my drawings, sketches, paintings, prints and cards.