Artist statement
Concepts
Corrie’s work is a reflection of personal experience, a fascination with painting the figure and a strong leaning towards surrealism and symbolism which allow her to build a cryptic narrative around her subject. Inspiration comes from literature, dreams, people and the world around her. Corrie creates compositions that are rooted in reality but then goes on to alter that reality through surreal manipulation of the figure, it’s landscape and perspective. She paints intimate portrayals, often in confined claustrophobic compositions, or figures dominating the landscape of the canvas. Her work is often concerned with ideas of transition, metamorphosis or hybrids which manifest themselves in representational figurative work through to more heavily stylised forms. By this distortion of figure and perspective she acknowledges the canvas as a portal to another world where there is freedom to create or manipulate anything. Although the work is often intense and introspective it still challenges the viewer to explore and recognise feelings of common experience. Her paintings invite the viewer to engage with his or her own storytelling abilities by deciphering an underlying meaning through symbolic clues in the picture’s narrative.
Influences
The Surrealists, Picasso, Balthus, Rivera, Matta, Rego, Escher and many more.
Career path
I have a degree in Fine Art from the Ruskin School of Drawing in Oxford. On completion of my degree I left Scotland to live in Australia for 10 years, spending two years of that time based in America. In both countries I painted several murals in public and private buildings, while creating smaller works from my studio. I moved to Wales in 1995 and now work from my studio in Cardiff.
Current and forthcoming events
- January - February 2010: Group Exhibition, The Cowbridge Gallery, Cowbridge (more info)
- February - March 2010: Women's Work, Off the Wall Gallery, Cardiff (more info)
- September - October 2010: Solo Show, Off the Wall Gallery, Cardiff (more info)
Solo exhibitions
- 2009 'Sub Rosa', St David's Hall, Cardiff (more info)
- 2008 Two person show, Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff (more info)
- 2000 Metanoia Exhibition, St Davids Hall, Cardiff
- 1995 The Illustrators Gallery, The Rocks, Sydney, Australia
- 1991 The Winter Garden Gallery, The Rocks, Sydney, Australia
- 1990 Fashion Square Mall, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, USA
Group exhibitions
- 2009 Off The Wall Gallery Christmas Show, Off The Wall Gallery, Cardiff (more info)
- 2009 St David's Hall Christmas Show, St David's Hall, Cardiff (more info)
- 2009 Late Summer Show, Kooywood Gallery, Museum Place, Cardiff
- 2009 Welsh Artist of the Year 2009, St David's Hall, Cardiff
- 2009 Wales Works, Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff (more info)
- 2008 Kooywood Gallery Christmas Exhibition, Oriel Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff (more info)
- 2008 St. David's Hall Christmas Exhibition, St David's Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff (more info)
- 2008 Old Fettesian Art Exhibition, Fettes College, Carrington Road, Edinburgh (more info)
- 2008 Welsh artist of the year 2008, St David's Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff (more info)
- 2008 Wales Portrait Award, Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, Birkenhead + 4 other venues, Birkenhead (more info)
- 2007 Midsummer show, Gallery Redbill, Shotton (more info)
- 2007 The Glamorgan Purchase Prize, The Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff (more info)
- 2007 Welsh Artist of the Year, St David's Hall, Cardiff (more info)
- 2007 Redbill Gallery Spring Show, Redbill Gallery, Shotton (more info)
- 2007 The Glamorgan Purchase Prize, Oriel Y bont, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd (more info)
- 2003 Summer Show, St David's Hall, The Hayes, Cardiff
- 2002 Heath Hospital Christmas Exhibition, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff
- 2002 St Davids Hall Christmas Exhibition, St Davids Hall, Cardiff
- 2001 Visible, exhibition, St. Davids Hall, Cardiff
- 2000 Myths and Legends Exhibition, Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen
- 1999 Permanent Waves Exhibition, St Davids Hall, Cardiff
- 1998 Wild Thing Exhibition, Oriel Myrddin, Carmarthen
- 1998 Five Paintings in City Hall for duration of European Summit
- 1997 3 paintings, Gwyl Werin Y Cnapan, Wales
Competitions, prizes and awards
- 2008 Wales Portrait Award, Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, Birkenhead + 4 other venues, Birkenhead/Wales
- 2007 The Glamorgan Purchase Prize Exhibition, The Millenium Centre, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff
- 2006 'Welsh Artist of the Year' competition/exhibition, St David's Hall, Cardiff
