Clare Brooksbank Art

About Clare

I have a fascination with the human form and how subtle changes of shape in the outer expression can tell us of shifts in the depths of the psyche. In my work I am combining charcoal drawings or paintings in oil with collaged text from film scripts, classical literature or my own writing to create a rich layering of script and image to express life experiences and emotions. I also have a background of portraiture and 'fore-edge painting' on antiquarian books.

I have recently exhibited a collection of portraits that is a portayal of mothers living on council estates in Derby. With this project I aim to tackle potential stereotyping of women raising children on a low income. Through text and image collaged within my portraits I expressed these mothers very personal interests and aspirations, showing that everyone is an individual but also that we may have common interests whatever our background. 

I am a member of the 'Derby Haunted House' artist group.

I was a chosen exhibitor in the 1999 BP Portrait Awards at The National Portrait Gallery, London

My fore-edge work is featured in:-
'The Annotated Dictionary of Fore-edge Painting' by Jeff Weber
and commissioned to paint the first five editions of the book.

'The History and Technique of Fore-edge Painting' by Jeanne
 Bennett.

I was featured in a six page article about my work in 'The Bookbinders Journal' (2012)