Concept - The Ideas Behind the Work

Enter the hidden world of nature and discover its secrets with me…

The natural world has always been a source of wonder for me, ever since I grew my first packet of seeds on the shed windowsill as a child. I am endlessly fascinated by the miniature world around us, from the tiny flowers nestled in the grass to the beetles scuttling across the earth.

For the past 20 years, my career has been dedicated to exploring the vibrant colours, intricate forms, and mesmerising patterns found in nature. Over the last decade, my work has increasingly focused on the fragility of our environment and the urgent need for us all to take steps to protect it. I strive to represent nature in unexpected ways, highlighting its delicate beauty and the vulnerability of humanity in the face of climate change.

Living in the rural heart of Sussex, I draw daily inspiration from the surrounding landscape. My paintings always begin with observational drawings, capturing the intricate relationships within the ecosystem. Each plant, insect, and creature, including humans, relies on one another, and this interconnectedness is a central theme in my work.

I create surreal compositions through automatism, a technique used by surrealist painters a century ago. These intuitive drawings blend accuracy, detail, and imagination, allowing my subconscious to shape the forms. The resulting imagery features a mix of recognisable element, part insect, part flower, part human and abstract biomorphic shapes. This interplay invites viewers to question the reality of nature and see it through a new lens.

Once the complex composition is complete, I embark on a meticulous painting process. Each line and brushstroke is carefully painted and repainted to achieve the perfect angle and curve. It also creates an intense layering of colours that appear to glow from the boards on which they are painted.  This delicate technique underscores the fragility of nature, a theme often reflected in my latest series, which frequently features humanity. The entire process, from initial sketches to the final oil painting, can take months or even years for larger works.

Join me in exploring the hidden world of nature and uncovering its secrets through my art. My most recent artworks can be found here - Artworks

Claire Harrison, March 2025