Artist Clare Maria Wood at work in her Knaresborough studio. Picture copyright: Clare Maria Wood
KNARESBOROUGH painter and printmaker Clare Maria Wood’s exhibition of ethereal and enigmatic abstract paintings opens at Bluebird Bakery, Acomb Road, Acomb, York, today.
Clare was born and raised near the Yorkshire coast, on the edge of the North York Moors, an environment that sparked a deep and lasting connection to the landscape and the sea.
Her latest paintings reflect this lifelong relationship, capturing the quiet moment just after sunset, when the sea glows, the moors deepen in silhouette and the light begins to fade. These works hold a sense of stillness, memory and emotional presence.
Wood Be Mine, by Clare Maria Wood
“My abstract landscapes and seascapes are my expression of ‘place’, which range from journeys around the craggy Cornish coast to the rugged North York Moors and the wide-open Sussex coastline,” says Clare. “The finished pieces evoke the energy of a living, breathing landscape.
“I see my paintings as a way of conveying an emotional connection to the land, sea and sky. I use sensitive mark-making to transcend the viewer to space beyond physical sight or human knowledge. Perhaps a place of nostalgia, of joy, of what it is to be human.”
Clare walks through the countryside or by the coast each day, in all weathers, with her dog, Poppy. “To be at the edge of the elements, where light shifts and dances; reliant and yet independent of the darkness, is what inspires me to paint,” she says.
Clare Maria Wood on the coast. Picture: Clare Maria Wood
In her home studio in Crag Lane, Clare works intuitively, often developing several pieces at once, allowing her to see what is working and expand on ideas. “I don’t have an end-point in mind but see the development as a journey of rhythm and space,” she says.
“I build up layered surfaces, using acrylic glazes, gold and silver leaf, drawn marks and hand-painted collage, and then sand back through those surfaces to reveal glimpses of hidden marks and suggested shapes.
“This process allows each painting’s history to emerge, echoing the erosion rhythm and slow transformation of the coast and land. As each piece develops, I take a more critical approach, refining areas while keeping the energy of the initial marks. When the balance and harmony feel ‘right’, then it’s finished.”
Between Light And Sea, by Clare Maria Wood
For Clare, “most days end with a walk at sunset, giving me food for thought for tomorrow’s developments and offering fresh perspective and quiet inspiration for what comes next.”
She studied fine art painting in the late-1980s at Harrogate College of Arts and Technology (foundation course) and Wimbledon School of Art, followed by post-graduate studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. Latterly, she completed a printmaking diploma at the Curwen Print Centre, where she worked under the guidance of Stanley Jones and Chloe Cheese.
Following an academic career as head of art at The Perse School , Cambridge, Clare returned to her own creative practice full-time. Her work has since been selected for prestigious exhibitions, including the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and the Society of Women Artists.
Clare Maria Wood drawing on the moorland. Picture: Clare Maria Wood
She exhibits in galleries around the UK, as well as at art fairs, has paintings in collections in the United States, Australia and around Europe and was awarded a residency at Brisons Veor, Cornwall.
Last month, Clare took part in the two North Yorkshire Open Studios weekends. From today, she will be exhibiting at Bluebird Bakery, Acomb, until August 28, attending this evening’s preview from 6pm to 9pm.
”I am thrilled to be showing statement paintings at the vibrant Bluebird Bakery,” she says. “Come and view my solo show while relaxing over a home-made artisan treat.” Opening hours are 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday; 10am to 3pm on Sundays.
Oceanus, by Clare Maria Wood