18/09/2026
I had delightful trip out to the South Shropshire hills yesterday along single track country lanes to the quietly secluded hilltop studio of CLAE to chat about her upcoming CLAE show at Swan Hill Studios which previews next Thursday 24th September and will be open to the public for the following week after that.
Her new body of work is a collection of abstract paintings that seem initially to be quite a significant move away from the outstanding portraiture she is most well-known for (Painting the Poets / Painting the Comedians /Ruth Borchard self-portrait prize). However, as we discuss the development of this arc over the course of the interview, you can begin to see how the deliberate, architectural planes and angles within her drawing and painting have slowly broken down and fragmented over time to become these subtle arrangements of muted colour and pure geometric form. ‘Everything we do is a self portrait’ she later said.
There is a familiar, warm, mid-century aesthetic and clarity to these paintings, beautifully hand-framed by the artist, which viewers are simply going to love. The open, elegant simplicity of the compositions invite the viewer to meditate on their harmony and balance, allowing them to bring their own narrative and emotions to the work.
I for one, cannot wait to see the show and I’m also attending Clae’s signature drawing workshop at Church Stretton’s latest art establishment Sandford Studio on November 1st.
A fascinating and insightful interview with this genuinely lovely human - Listen now on all major streaming platforms or 🔗 in bio.
