About

Born in Ayrshire, I grew up in Spey Bay on the Moray coast, before graduating with an MA in Fine Art from the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art with a distinction in painting in 1997.

I have shown my oil paintings professionally throughout the UK since 1998. My work, inspired by the Scottish Borders landscape where I live and work, is in many private collections in the UK and worldwide.  I have exhibited widely and have had a number of solo exhibitions.  I am currently represented by Morningside Gallery in Edinburgh and Cameron Contemporary Art in Brighton. I am a member of the Society of Scottish Artists, Visual Arts Scotland and Aberdeen Artists Society. 

Landscape has always been a source of inspiration. My painting practice is based on my experience of the landscape around me and almost always features a solitary motif.  Often this is a tree or group of trees, a cloud, hay bales, or the outline of hills against the sky.  I am interested in the possibilities of the picture plane surrounding these elements and the idea of a distant centre representing pause, reflection and an idea of home.  I create work by building colour and mark making over time until landscape elements and compositions settle into place, sometimes by chance.  I want the final image to glow and resonate like a specific memory or a glance that comes briefly into focus.

Working creatively with others I believe that the visual arts are energising and motivating and can inspire change and enable connections between people on many levels.  Recent projects and research are outlined on my Projects page. 

 

Claire in her home studio in Duns in the Scottish Borders 

CURRICULUM VITAE

Education

2023-2024
Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh
PGCert in Applied Arts and Social Practice

1992–1997
University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh College of Art
MA (Hons) Fine Art (with distinction in studio work)

Solo Exhibitions

Jun 2024 – (forthcoming) As Far as I Can See, Waterfall Gallery, Hawick Museum 1 June – 28 Aug 2024
Feb 2018 – UMBRA at Cameron Contemporary Art, Brighton
Oct 2016 – STILL at Dundas Street Gallery Edinburgh with Cameron Contemporary Art
Oct 2015 – REVERIE preview at Chelsea Arts Club, London and Cameron Contemporary Art, Brighton
Oct 2013 – ARBOR at Store Street Gallery London and Cameron Contemporary Art, Brighton

Collections

Private collections worldwide.

Selected Group Exhibitions

Cameron Contemporary Art, Hove
Morningside Gallery, Edinburgh
Albany Gallery, Cardiff
Green Gallery, Buchlyvie
Fidra Fine Art, Gullane
Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh
Affordable Art Fair Battersea, New York, Hampstead, Bristol (annually)
Walker Galleries, Harrogate
Gallery Ten, Edinburgh
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
Royal Glasgow Institute
Frames Gallery, Perth
Twenty Twenty Gallery, Shropshire
Paisley Art Institute
Chelsea Art Fair, London
Smithy Gallery, Blanefield
Gymnasium Gallery, Berwick upon Tweed
Collective Gallery, Edinburgh

Residencies

Feb 2021 – Marchmont House Tower Studio Creative Spaces Residency

Publications

Jan/Feb 2021 – ‘The English Home’
Jan 2021 – Artmag
Oct 2016 – Sussex Life
Nov 2015 – ‘Stella’ magazine

Prizes & Awards

Mar 2021 – Creative Scotland Visual Artist Award
Mar 2012 – Creative Scotland Visual Artist Award
May 1997 – Helen A Rose Bequest – for distinguished work, Edinburgh College of Art

Claire Beattie, Hay Field and Stormy Sky, oil on paper, 24x30cms, 2016

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