Biography
Clare Hughes works from her studio in her garden in Hayle, Cornwall, which is situated close to the Cornish coastline, from which she gains much of the inspiration for her work.
“After leaving art collage in 1986, my focus was on gaining employment, hopefully within the creative sector, to enable me to make a living using my degree. I began employment as an interior designer and have worked in that field ever since."
After working for 11 years for other companies, in 1999 Clare decided to do a Masters Degree in Interior Design. On completing the MA, in 2001 she set up her own interior design business, which has kept her busy ever since, and which she has found both enjoyable and creative, and at times extremely testing work! However, it was moving down to Cornwall from Bradford in 2009, that reignited her desire to paint again, and as her priorities have shifted she has consciously made the decision to invest more of her time in painting.
“The contrast between designing to given briefs from clients, to being able to have the freedom to create exactly what I want to in painting, has been a hugely freeing experience for me. I’ve found the energy I’ve gained from painting and drawing has fed my passion for art in a way that I have never felt before – even as an art student – and I want to go on feeding that feeling for as long as I can.”
Clare is a member of St Ives Arts Club, and Taking Space, which is a group of women artists who work together to put on exhibitions of women’s art throughout Cornwall.
BA Art & Design; Bradford College, 1986
MA By Research Interior Design; Manchester Metropolitan University School of Architecture, 2001
Upcoming Exhibitions
2023
MORVAH SCHOOLHOUSE GALLERY
M o r v a h , P e n d e e n
Group exhibition with Taking Space
2 t h A p r i l - 1 1 t h M a y
ST IVES ARTS CLUB
W e s t c o t s Q u a y S t I v e s
Joint exhibition with Cynthia Jenkin
17th - 24th June 2023
stives arts club
Group Exhibition with Taking Space
2 4 t h J u n e - 3 0 t h J u n e
the crypt, sitsa
Norway Square
St Ives
Group exhibition with Taking Space
7th October - 13th October
Previous Exhibitions
The Crypt Gallery, St Ives, group exhibition with Taking Space, 28th August - 3rd September 2021.
Morvah Schoolhouse Gallery, Morvah, Pendeen, exhibition with Jenni Burrows, 12th June - 25th June 2021
St Ives Arts Club, Westcotts Quay, St Ives, 4-artist exhibition, 14th - 28th May 2021
The Rock Institute, Rock, Wadebridge, Group exhibition with Taking Space, 22nd - 27th October 2019.
St Ives Arts Club, Monday Group Exhibition, 12th - 25th October 2019
Morvah Schoolhouse Gallery, group exhibition with Taking Space, 25th August - 6th September 2019
Morvah Schoolhouse Gallery, The Curated Show (group exhibition) 25th May - 28th June 2019.
St Ives Arts Club, joint exhibition with Cynthia Jenkin & Amanda Sedgeman; 24th May - 6th June 2019.
The Crypt Gallery, St Ives, Taking Space joint exhibition; 4th May - 17th May 2019
The Mariners Gallery, St Ives; Society of Artists open exhibition; November 2018 – January 2nd 2019
The Rock Institute; Taking Space group exhibition, October 2018
Morvah Schoolhouse Gallery, Far & Near, Two Views of Cornwall, two-person exhibition with Martin Hearne; September 30th - October 2018.
St Ives Arts Club; open exhibition: April 2018
The Crypt Gallery, St Ives; Taking Space exhibition: March 2018
St Ives Arts Club; open exhibition: May 2017
St Ives Arts Club; open exhibition for St Ives festival: September 2017
St Ives Arts Club; Monday Group exhibition: October 2017