 ...click on/tap images for a larger view.. When I heard that I'd been accepted onto the Mawddach residency I was so excited. Being able to totally immerse myself in this beautiful Welsh landscape for two weeks was a dream! I'd never been to the west coast of Wales before and I had heard so many wonderful things. I was also at a point where I was hoping for some fresh inspiration for my painting process and I knew this was going to be the perfect catalyst. Scarlett & Jake very cleverly paired me with the lovely, talented sculptor, Arabella Brooke, and we had a similar focus, both of us wanting to make the most of this unique experience. I found co-working in the studio was valuable and inspiring. It was a privilege to have such a close insight into Arabella's working method. We shared delicious meals, swam in the estuary, talked art and posed for the Draw Brighton portrait session. All these experiences were really precious to me. September was also about experiencing the seasonal change from summer into autumn, colder mornings and unpredictable weather. We had thunderstorms like I’ve never seen, huge hail stones, and I awoke to mountains shrouded by mist, viewed from the cosy studio. I loved the dark ominous rain clouds moving in across the sea, beams of bright sunshine and the endless rainbows. It was such a treat to swim in the estuary under this immense sky surrounded by incredible mountains and hills. My paintings are about experiencing the landscape rather than visually depicting it, so walking and exploring the local area was important to me. I loved the walks to the waterfalls at Arthog, Cregannan Lakes and Blue Lake. Seeing the view from the other side of the estuary and discovering the neolithic burial chambers (Tal-y-bont) and Barmouth & Fairbourne’s blustery beaches, are all experiences etched in my memory and recorded in drawing. I made colour studies in my sketchbook and large charcoal drawings when working close to the estuary. I also had the time to take pieces of rolled canvas with me into the landscape, something that I've never done before. I worked on these with watersoluble materials, which, now that I am back in my studio, I see as a starting point for new work.  I intend to grow the work I started on the residency, a particular focus being the atmospheric skies. I loved seeing dark clouds on the horizon and bright sunshine over the hills, this combination gives the most incredible colour to the salt marsh and surrounding mountains. I'm excited to be having a solo show at the Jeannie Avent gallery, East Dulwich in March 2026 which will enable me to share some of this work with a wider audience. Claire Chandler website
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