Rae Clarke
Since relocating to Saltburn from Sheffield in 2015 Rae resumed painting after a thirty year hiatus and became a studio holder at Saltburn Studios and Gallery in 2018. She has participated in group exhibitions, primarily across the North- East and Yorkshire alongside solo shows in Saltburn and Richmond. In 2024 being selected for the annual Open Exhibition in the Ferens Art Gallery in her hometown of Hull brought Rae real pride and joy. Key achievements also include shortlisted, North York Moors National Park Art Award 2022 and longlisted 'Women in Art' Emerging painter prize UK 2022 and 2024.
Rae's paintings are full of feelings about what surrounds her. Semi- abstract oils capture eye catching scenes through shape, pattern, line, texture and colour. With a sense of nostalgia emotion is elicited from everyday experiences, particularly spaces where people unwind such as the huddles of historic Staithes cottages, due to the strong associations with wonderment and wellbeing. Having been an interior designer, conveying mood is critical to Rae and an earlier career with diverse communities brings a core working principle of making paintings open to everyone, including through a directness in the way materials are used.