After graduating from Edinburgh college of art and Edinburgh university in 2012 with an MA(Hons) in fine art, I moved to London seeking to learn the traditional techniques of decorative art that I became interested in after writing my dissertation on the symbolic importance of the use of materials in European medieval art.

I enjoy the challenge of creating original solutions to decorative problems. Comfortable working on site whether a large construction site or small residential, or creating work in the studio and then installing. I am used to both working on my own and within a team, with experience of onsite management and creative direction.

My own practice involves creating layers of drawing within one image with a range of media that gradually build up into an abstract image that aims to indicate a landscape. Evocative travel literature, symbolic medieval art and my own experiences of the outdoors are amongst my influences to create work that aims to encourages contemplation.

Working as both a fine and decorative artist has allowed me to amass an in-depth knowledge of materials in order to manipulate them and create highly specific and unique works, whether to a specific design brief or to satisfy my own aims as an artist.

In 2021 I was honoured to become a QEST scholar, receiving a QEST Howdens scholarship to embark on a period of intensive study of faux marbling and wood graining painting techniques under Pierre Beaudry. 

http://www.qest.org.uk

For any enquiries please contact info@phyllisclairsmith.co.uk

Instagram: @phyllisclairsmith