Corrie Chiswell
Corrie celebrates figure, form, land, sea and sky. She draws inspiration from myths, fairytales and literature but also the world about her; our interaction with the commonplace and the spiritual, the conscious and the sub-conscious. The artist explores themes as diverse as The Highland Clearances, folklore, classical mythology, war and our impact on a fragile planet. The inspiration for her narrative portraiture is drawn from literature, historical events and song while her sitters channel angels, selkies, sirens and characters from fairytales. In her natural forms she explores ‘homes’ that encompass a combination of strength and fragility.
‘I looked at shells, sea urchins and nests. I took inspiration from Matisse’s ‘Treachery of Images’ in the paintings and drawings of nests after seeing the devastation wrought by global warming in the Philippines. Aerial shots of the aftermath of the typhoon were poignantly reminiscent of nest like structures and with this I explored the idea of a comforting image or a place of safety with a title that suggests the opposite.’
Corrie Chiswell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1963. Her family are originally from the Western Isles but she spent most of her early years in the Borders and Central Highlands. She studied art at Fettes College where she won ‘The Andrew Campell Memorial Prize for Art’, and was taught by the Scottish painter John Brown RSA, before going up to Oxford. There she completed a degree in fine art, specializing in painting, at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art. On completion of her degree in 1985 she traveled extensively, living and working from her studios in Australia and America until 1995 when she returned to the United Kingdom. In both countries she painted murals in public and private buildings, while creating smaller works from her studios. She moved to Wales in 1996 and now works from her studio in Cardiff.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 - 'Dream of Flight', Off The Wall Gallery, Cardiff.
2015 - Penarth Art Fair.
2014 - 'Amour en Cage', Off The Wall Gallery, Cardiff.
2012 - 'Heaven and Earth/Nef a Daear', Off the Wall Gallery, Cardiff.
2010 - 'In Remembrance/Er Cof', Off the Wall Gallery, Cardiff.
2009 - 'Sub Rosa', St David's Hall, Cardiff.
2008 - Two person show, Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff.
2000 - 'Metanoia', St Davids Hall, Cardiff.
1995 - Solo Show, The Illustrators Gallery, The Rocks, Sydney, Australia.
1991 - Solo Show, The Winter Garden Gallery, The Rocks, Sydney, Australia.
1990 - Solo Show, Fashion Square Mall, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, USA.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2014 - 'Human Clay Revisited', Ropewalk Gallery, Humber.
2013 - 'Figure It Out', Studio 11 Gallery, Hull.
2013 - 'Art and the Environment', Off the Wall Gallery, Cardiff.
2012 - 'Deg/Ten', Oriel Canfas, Pontcanna, Cardiff.
2012 - 'Head and Whole 2: Talking Heads', Abbey Walk Gallery, Grimsby.
2012 - 'The Dreamed Chamber', Trattles and Geall Gallery, Whitby.
2011 - Affordable Art Fair, St David's Hall, Cardiff, Cardiff.
2011 - Crunch Festival 2011, Hay-on-Wye, Hay-on-Wye.
2011 - 'Head and Whole', Abbey Walk Gallery, Grimsby.
2011 - 'Myth, Magic and Madness', The View Gallery, Bristol.
2010 - Group Exhibition, The Cowbridge Gallery, Cowbridge.
2010 - Welsh Artist of the Year 2010, St David's Hall, Cardiff.
2010 - 'Women's Work', Off the Wall Gallery, Cardiff.
2009 - 'Wales Works', Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff.
2009 - Welsh Artist of the Year 2009, St David's Hall, Cardiff.
2008 - Old Fettesian Art Exhibition, Fettes College, Carrington Road, Edinburgh.
2008 - Wales Portrait Award, Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, Birkenhead + 4 other venues.
2008 - Welsh Artist of the Year 2008, St David's Hall, Cardiff.
2007 - Midsummer show, Gallery Redbill, Shotton.
2007 - Spring Show, Redbill Gallery, Shotton.
2007 - The Glamorgan Purchase Prize, Oriel Y bont, Wales.
2007 - The Glamorgan Purchase Prize, The Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff.
2007 - Welsh Artist of the Year, St David's Hall, Cardiff.
COMPETITIONS, PRIZES AND AWARDS
2009 - Painting Prize, Welsh Artist of the Year, St David's Hall, Cardiff.
2008 - 2nd prize, Wales Portrait Award, Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, Birkenhead + 4 other venues.
2007 - The Glamorgan Purchase Prize Exhibition, The Millenium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff.
2006 - Highly Commended 'Welsh Artist of the Year', St David's Hall, Cardiff.