Caroline Lain
Caroline was born in 1972 in Norfolk. From a young age she was destined to follow her love of art and at the tender age of five she was a prize winner in a county art competition. She first studied at Norwich City College where she won a national A’level Art Prize. She studied at Norwich School of Art winning the Foundation Diploma Prize for exemplary work. Moving to London in 1991 Caroline obtained a place at Chelsea School of Art to study Painting. She qualified as a teacher of Art and Design in 1998. She returned to complete her MA where she synchronised Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Photography and Ceramics achieving her MA with Distinction.
Elements and our Environment - Abstraction and Process
"My sensory experiences are elevated next to nature where paradoxically I feel connected yet liberated.
Nature is my steady weight. My fixed point."
"Growing up in the Norfolk landscape I suspect are where my sensibilities have been nurtured. The Norfolk coastline where I live is very beautiful, muted with vast skies. samphire rich mudflats greeting migrating birds. My ancestors were one time fishermen at Brancaster and generations worked on the land. As a child, times were spent at Morston paddling, walking or taking the open boat to Blakeney Point; the spit of land entrusted to grey seals, wildfowl and rare plants.
"Nothing is more grounding than walking with my border collie Meg. Rising early morning we walk together. Our chosen time, we walk when the land is quiet when nature is still. Across fields we reach what I call the “top of the world”. For Norfolk that’s a challenge but from here we can see at least 15 miles in distance. It’s a breathing space a vast sky and incredible before and after the rain, It frames rain clouds perfectly. At the top of the world deer head home to the woods. Meg is tracking in the moment. We are connected with our earth."
"Nature offers me beauty, peace, and drama. I am interested in the sublime, wild places and relish exploring space and place through different experiences; physical, emotional, metaphorical and transcendental. I am a walker. I feel a sense of freedom amongst the elements. Land, sky and sea feeds my imagination and offers me insight into my own existence. I wish for my work to be honest and my emotions and those expressions are as raw as I have; I think we should learn to celebrate not fear them. Artist’s can liberate and channel those sensitivities into beautiful celebrations.
The more I experience, the older I become I realise that for my creative process to flow it has to be an emotional response something I experience, I see, feel, touch, hear. The dramatic headland of Pendeen cliffs, Cornwall are awe-inspiring. Dark, sublime, the Atlantic surge crashing below. A weather front arrives; wind, rain, envelop us. We are amongst it, we are one.
Art Education Projects in the Community
I am an experienced teacher have been teaching painting and drawing since the late 1990’s.
Early on I worked as Artist in Residence at Headington School for Girls in Oxford for a year long residency. This was a wonderful opportunity to hone my teaching skills but making art in a very inspiring school.
For many years I worked as an educator in schools, colleges and on independent art community projects.
I designed and delivered art courses for the North Norfolk Exhibition Project for six years. We had many memorable days at Cley village hall packed full of artists, gaining inspiration, new skills and for some a chance to experience creativity for the first time. The Cley Projects ultimately confirmed that Art can Bring People and Communities together and for which you can't underestimate the healing power of the arts.
For Breckland Council I designed and delivered a summer programme of Family Bookbinding and Making Courses at Swaffham, Watton, Attleborough, Thetford Libraries. Some beautiful work was produced and again the chance for families to spend some quiet creative time together was precious and connecting.
I am particularly proud of working with my inspirational students with special needs and disabilities which took me on a 15 year journey. Leading courses from Therapeutic Horticulture, Functional Skills, Local History Project at Gressenhall Museum and Friday Group Cooking. My students taught me a lot, their attitude, grace, honesty was humbling. I miss their free flowing attitude to life and creativity all of which is fearless and joyous.
As an artist I am passionate about the creative process and love to nurture and to see participants find there wings and flourish with their creative confidence. I aim to open up thinking; to question, to challenge, to push skills and knowledge. There is lots of sharing, lots of work, lots of energy, movement which can be intensive but ultimately enlightening. Creativity should be about play, to be enjoyable. Creativity should be exciting and beautiful.
"What a great experience - so inspiring and beautifully led by Caroline."
"Caroline, I have really appreciated the inspiration you have provided during this course. I have enjoyed experimenting with form, technique, glazing and look forward to continuing."
"Brilliant workshop. Never done anything else like this before. The start of something new. Felt at ease in the class. Excellent, thank you."
"I have had an absolutely wonderful time - I wish I could stay all week!"
"Thank you for a very enjoyable and informative workshop. It was a super day run by someone with a real passion for art."
"Great day Caroline. Lovely ideas and help. My first time here but I'll be back. Thank you."
"We all enjoyed ourselves so much - lovely variety of materials and lots of help. Thank you Caroline."
"Mission accomplished. My husband has found his passion for watercolours again. We had such an enjoyable time - many thanks for working your magic Caroline."
"Wonderful workshop, well explained, encouraging and enjoyable."
"Painting Light - Looking at Turner and Richard Diebenkorn" - July 2018 @ The Studio
"Still life Natural Forms - Drawing and Painting with Mixed Media" - August 2018 @ The Studio
"Colour Kaleidoscope - Experimenting with Colour" - September 2018 @ The Studio
"Autumnal Drawing - Hedgerow Plants"- October 2018 @ The Studio
"Painting - Discovering Working with a Palette Knife" - November 2018 @ The Studio
“Expressive Painting and Drawing – Patrick Heron and Per Kirkeby” Cley18 - over 60s - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
"The Art of Collage and Assemblage – Lost, Discarded and Found " Cley18 - adults - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
“Still Life using Water-based Oils – Micro and Macro” Cley17 - adults - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
"Vessels Made and Drawn – Expressive Drawing and Sulptural Workshop" Cley17 - over 60s - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
"Fun with Fabrics – Printing on Fabric" Cley17 - carers and clients - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
"Crafting Paper Bowls" Cley16 - carers and clients - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
"Capturing Landscape" (experimental watercolour) Cley16 - over 60s - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
“Collage Extravaganza” Cley15 - over 60s - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
“Making Books” Cley15 - for families - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
“Handmade Books – Family Bookbinding and Making Workshop” Libraries, Breckland Council Family Holiday Activity Programme
“Amazing Mosaics” Cley14 - carers and clients - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
“A Handmade Christmas” - Art and Craft workshop
“Colour on Canvas” - Painting workshop for Dereham Art Group, Marlingford Art Group, Salthouse13
“Get Crafty with Decoupage” Salthouse12 - carers and clients - for North Norfolk Exhibition Project
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia - object based learning to compliment the exhibitions and collections. Designed and implemented workshop for gifted KS4 students, developing questions on Miniature, Micro and Macro.
Education:
2009 MA Design Ceramics - pass with Distinction, Bath Spa University, Bath
1999 PGCE Post Compulsory Education, Norwich City College, Norfolk
1994 BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting, Chelsea School of Art, London
1991 BTEC Foundation Course - with commendation and Foundation Prize, Norwich School of Art, Norfolk
1988 A'level Art and College Diploma in Art and Design - National Art Prize and Distinction, Norwich City College, Norfolk
Contact Caroline: