Claire Frances Smith
With a creative family who encouraged her endeavours, the young Claire Frances-Smith spent much of her time playing music, sketching and painting. She loved her art lessons at school and soon realised that she wanted to pursue an artistic career. She studied Design and Illustration at Barking College where her course was biased towards graphic design but she received an excellent grounding in composition and colour theory which was to prove invaluable in approach to her fine art.
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After leaving college Claire started a family but continued painting. She later moved to Norfolk where she began to exhibit her work. Local galleries were keen to feature her paintings and this gave her the confidence to continue with her art and to develop her distinctive style.
Claire is fascinated by colour and the drama that can be created from strong contrasts. She admires the beauty that the great masters could conjure from their use of light and dark and the skillful handling of the light falling on the subjects of their compositions. Water and fish have always fascinated Claire because of the reflections, the ripples in the water and the amazing colour contrasts. Koi represent strength in adversity and good fortune and the fish exhibit striking colouration, all of which makes them the perfect subjects for Claire’s work.
Claire Frances-Smith begins each composition by sketching her subject from life or photographs. She then begins to paint with a spontaneous approach. The pictures evolve throughout the process with the result that the finished pieces feel full of life. The emphasis is on the play of light on the water and capturing the distortions created by the depth of the water.
We are sure that you will be entranced by the unique paintings of Claire France-Smith. Her striking subjects and fabulous handling of light deliver captivating compositions that are incredibly vibrant and yet relaxing and harmonious. We are delighted to offer you her signed limited editions which would be an eye catching features of any home or collection.
Koi Colours - Claire Frances-Smith (Signed Limited Edition Boxed Canvas) Tranquility - Claire Frances-Smith (Signed Limited Edition Boxed Canvas)