Carol Cruickshank

Corfe Castle under Ash

About

Born and raised in Cheshire, I obtained a degree in Biochemistry at Aberystwyth University. I then moved to Essex where I taught an array of subjects – including all the sciences – and, after going back after having children, Science plus Child Development (“You have had children and there is a Biology section”) and then leading on from that teaching Food and Textiles. I always hated textiles at school, it all seemed to be endless pinning and tacking and finicky accuracy … I never dreamed I would teach it or earn my living as a textile artist when I was older. Although fascinated by design and creative innovation, I had to choose between Biology and Art when I was 13 and I was to be a scientist, so any creativity oozed out in various hobbies I engaged in rather than formal training.

I developed a love for American Folk Art applique whilst attending regular monthly workshops run by Essex textile artist Sharon Blackman. I loved, under her tutorage, hand sewing small samples of the sort of naïve designs found on early quilts. Here my hand-sewing technique was practised and honed. Then I moved to the coast in Dorset in 2007. I cannot describe very well in words the joys of living by the sea, but that delight found an expression in another new and exciting way … hand sewn large scale seascapes. Here, I could now fully express the ever-changing, beautiful views I was experiencing every day.

Since starting on local sea and landscapes in 2010 I have extended my pictures to anywhere which captures my imagination. With a son in Australia and a daughter in Copenhagen both these places provided me with exciting subject matter. Add some of my husband’s family living on Anglesey and also the temptations of visits to nearby Devon and Cornwall and you see the reason for my choice of subject matter. It was further extended by commissions I have completed. I am a regular participant of Dorset Art Weeks Open Studios and exhibit in galleries in Dorset, Devon and Somerset.

Contact: info@carolcruickshank.com

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CarolCruickshankArt

Anvil Point Lighthouse

Anvil Point Lighthouse is in the grounds of Durlston, Swanage, overlooking the sea. It is set in amongst lovely hills with wildflower meadows and butterflies. I have shown cow parsley, blue scabious and wild roses along with some holly blue butterflies. This was a commission for someone’s birthday of a place where she regularly ran.

Autumn Walk, Corfe Castle

We found a new walk, starting at Scotland Farm, near Corfe village. It suddenly opened up to a lovely view of Corfe Castle. We sat down and started to eat our picnic when suddenly two roe deer, a mother and fawn, appeared out of the undergrowth just in front of us. There was a still moment when all our eyes met and then the deer bounded off away from us followed by our very excited dog, Honey. Happily, Honey was a lot slower than the deer. I wanted to capture that special moment in my textile picture.

Durdle Door Daisies

Durdle Door is an iconic arch along the Purbeck coast. It is part of the Jurassic coast and shows the Earth’s past layers. When we visited there were a clump of some of my favourite flowers, Ox-Eye Daisies, on the clifftops above.

One Snowy Christmas

One snowy Christmas, we were visiting relatives on Anglesey. Our kids, me too!, were so excited to see that it had snowed in the night and spent the next day playing with their cousins, a very memorable family time. I worked on this textile years later, from lots of photos we took at the time

Lunch at Quiddles

One of my favourite places to walk the dog, grab a coffee or glass of wine or have lunch. A cheerful sunny spot with spectacular views and sunsets. It is found at the Portland end of the magnificent Chesil Beach and lucky us, it is just a few minutes’ drive from our home.

Durham Cathedral

I usually visit the places I depict in textile, but this one was just too far away. It was a birthday commission, and I worked from photos the family sent me. I used artistic licence in placing views of the person’s back garden at the forefront of the river and cathedral.

Abbey Flower Farm

Abbotsbury is one of my favourite Dorset Villages. The houses are all stone and utterly charming. The garden flowers are gorgeous too. Here is the view looking up at the Church and Flower Farm

Bryher

My favourite holiday destination is the Scilly Isles. Bryher is a beautiful island, quiet even in the midst of the tourist season.

Sydney Harbour

I never thought I would ever travel so far as Australia, but when my son decided to live there, we had no choice! Wow what a place it is. Thank you, Sam, for pushing us out of our comfort zone. His first job was in Sydney, and I spent a very happy morning sketching the gigantic harbour, the first cityscape and bridge I did.

High Tide at St Michaels

A place I have always loved since visiting Cornwall on holiday as a child. A beautiful mystical island and buildings viewed from a lovely long beach.

Let’s Go for a Pint at Dittisham

Pheasant at the Bill

I have depicted the area around Portland Bill with its 3 lighthouses many times from different viewpoints. It is a lovely area and popular with locals and tourists alike. On this occasion we had walked the dog up the Hill behind Portland Bill and the Older Lower Lighthouse, now the Bird observatory and as we started to walk down, we saw the pheasant in the field below and it became my inspiration for this picture

White Nothe Gig in Weymouth Harbour

I was sketching the harbour at Weymouth with a view to reproducing it in my textile style. I had already taken lots of photos over a few days, when in rowed the White Nothe Gig. I couldn’t resist including it in the picture.

The Association of British Naïve Artists,
c/o Noah’s Ark,
Abbey Place, Mousehole,
Cornwall, TR19 6PQ

info@britishnaives.co.uk

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