Artists Caro Friend

 ‘Having returned to where I grew up, my work explores an emotional response to this environment and landscape. Here I try to capture the essence of a place and memory of somewhere that’s held a particular fascination and connection for me. Immersing myself in the multi-sensory experience of this landscape, no two days are ever alike. The ever-changing light, temperature, season, and weather means that I’m continually exploring. Through sketches, photos, and memories I record these journeys into this landscape through perspectives, paths, structures, textures, and colours. 

In the studio, I work on a series of paintings simultaneously and begin with no end point which allows each painting to develop its own individual history. I work intuitively to weave together elements from the sketches, photos, and memories to distil those experiences into my paintings, exploring my own feelings, perceptions, and moods as well as an exploration of colour, texture, paint and line. 

My paintings evolve over time, layer upon layer. Every new layer adds depth, each mark is evidence of what went before, each colour choice reflects the moment in which it was chosen, yet the history remains underneath, it glimpses through here and there and can be seen on closer inspection of the piece, drawing the viewer in. In this way, they do mirror life and the landscape that has inspired them. Each painting develops its own unique history offering a sense of place while also hinting at multiple deeper meanings. The end result can be both exciting and satisfying.’