Caroline Watson
Inspired by memory, dreams and childhood, my work explores the unconscious and notions of the uncanny. I use devices such as active imagination, dream logic and pareidolia, to delve into the weird spaces and infinite world of the psyche.
By treading a line between beauty and the sinister, I aim to create something that is both attractive and unnerving at the same time. I use landscape and interiors as settings for dramas which, although often bizarre, contain psychological truths.
As well as painting, I create puppets and other works from recycled materials, namely; wood, old fabrics and papier mache. I use these objects for small installations, as props or prompts for paintings, photographic tableaux or simply as works in their own right.
Selected Exhibitions
2024 Heart of the Tribe Winter Open, Glastonbury
2024 BV Open Studios, Bristol
2023 BV Open Studios, Bristol
2022 -23 Out Of The Dark, View Art Gallery, Bristol
2022 'So You Think You Are Safe In the Woods?' Centrespace Gallery, Bristol (2 person show)
2022 BV Open Studios, Bristol
2022 Millfield Open, Atkinson Gallery, Street
2021 -22 'A Generous Space, Hastings Contemporary, Hastings
2021 'Memento Mori' Air Gallery, Altrincham
2021 Ritual, West Art Collective, Antwerp Mansion, Manchester
2020 "Isolation" online exhibition, View Art Gallery, Bristol
2020 "Contemporary Painters 2020" Centrespace Gallery
2019 "Mannequins and Puppets", Loosen Art, Millepiani, Rome
2019 "All Work and All Play" Air Gallery, Altrincham
2019 BV Open Studios, Bristol
2019 “Shadows” Loosen Art, Millepiani, Rome
2018 "Fringe Things", Hours gallery, Bristol (solo show)
2018 “Doorways”, Fringe Arts Bath Festival
2018 BV Open Studios, Bristol
2017 "Fairyland" Hours gallery, Bristol (solo show)
2017 Electric Open, Electric Picture House, Cheshire.
2017 "Go Wild in the Country" Bruton Art Factory, Somerset
2017 BV Open Studios, Bristol
2016 Black Swan Arts Open, Frome
2016 BV Open Studios, Bristol
2015 BV Open Studios, Bristol
2014 Summer Salon, View Art Gallery, Bristol
2014 BV Open Studios, Bristol
2013 Bristol Puppet Festival
2012 "The Uncanny", Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, Lancashire
2011 Royal West of England Academy, Autumn Show, Bristol
2010 Fire and Iron Gallery, Surrey
2010 "Comfortably Strange", View Art Gallery, Bristol
2008 "Firework Folk" Room 212 & Rainbow Cafe, Bristol (solo show)
2007 ING Discerning Eye, The Mall Galleries, London
2007 Bristol Art Show, Centrespace, Bristol
2007 Society of Graphic Fine Art annual exhibition, Menier Gallery, London
2007 Millfield Summer Show, Atkinson Gallery
2006 Octogan Theatre,Yeovil (solo show)
2006 "Myth and Magic", Bridgwater Arts Centre (solo show)
2006 Royal West of England Academy Autumn Show
2006 Chichester Open Art Exhibition
2006 Society of Graphic Fine Art annual exhibition, Menier Gallery, London
2006 Black Swan Open Arts Competition, Black Swan Arts, Frome
2006 “Re-worked”, Oriel Washington Gallery, Penarth
2005 Royal West of England Academy Autumn Show
2005 Chichester Open Art Exhibition
2005 “The Bristol Pack” launch exhibition, Centrespace, Bristol
2005 Millfield Summer Show, Atkinson Gallery
2005 Royal West of England Academy Open Painting Exhibition
2005 “Apex”, Candid Arts Trust, London
2004 Prema, Uley, Gloucester (solo show)
2004 "Penny Bazaar", Centrespace Gallery, Bristol (solo show)
2004 Royal West of England Academy Autumn Show
2004 Cheltenham Art Prize Open Exhibition
2004 Black Swan Open exhibition,
2003 “Figure This”, Stroud Valley Visual Arts Festival
2003 “Tread Softly”, Black Swan Arts, Frome
2002 Black Swan Open Painting Competition, Black Swan Arts, Frome
Awards
2007 Commended, Millfield Summer Show
2005 Award for Painting, sponsored by Bristol Fine Art, RWA Autumn Show
2004 Commended in Fine Art, Black Swan open exhibition
2002 Burton Sweet Award; First prize in the Black Swan open painting competition
Higher Education
1994 - 1997 University of the West of England, BA (Hons) Degree in Fine Art
1997 - 1998 University of the West of England, Certificate of extension studies.