Claire Pinney Painting and Poetry
About Claire
An Artist Statement & Career Path
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Artist Statement
I create pictures to tell a story of our time, using ink and egg tempera, wood engraving and poetry. My aim is to illuminate life as I perceive it, with a gentle twist that reflects on some of the little absurdities and ironies of the human condition. Sometimes a little quirky and sometimes quietly subversive, these observations on the little things in life have been described as endearing, charming, and wistful. My hope is they bring pause for thought or a smile, wherever they are displayed - in exhibitions, offices, on bus shelters, train stations and the walls of a hospital. I studied fine art at London Metropolitan University’s School of Art, Architecture & Design and won the University's Purchase Prize in 2009. My artwork has been bought by the Hertfordshire County Art Collection, and I am author and illustrator of 2 books of illustrated poetry: Poetry Comics No.1 & No.2. I have exhibited my artwork in galleries across the UK. The artists who have influenced me range from the charm and sincerity of medieval illustration to the Neue Sachlichkeit art of Germany in the 1920s, and include the work of Paula Rego, Saul Steinberg, James Ensor, Mel Calman and Edward Gorey. |
Career Path
Claire's career began in a cake shop in St Albans, Hertfordshire. She progressed from jam doughnuts to rum babas but her life was changed forever by the Russian slices.
She studied Russian and Soviet Studies at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, London. In 1991 she was ready to tuck into the next layer of adventure and set off to live in the Soviet Union. When the USSR collapsed shortly after her arrival, she experienced at first hand the challenges faced by ordinary people in the crumbling Soviet empire. Claire lived in Minsk until 1994 and, when she can, returns to Belarus to visit friends.
Settling back in England, she worked at a project for homeless women for 7 years, trained as a spiritual director, studied theology and generally tried to figure out what to do with herself. Finally she graduated from London Met with a degree in Fine Art and won the University's Purchase Prize.
Claire set up the Crypt Gallery at St Pancras Church, London and was its Director for 12 years. During this time she also played a part in developing a small charity called PSALM, bringing creative workshops to older people, carrying the strapline "taking ageing and faith seriously".
Claire has a studio in St Albans and currently works as an administrator in London. Her work includes curating the St Marylebone Art Space which provides a year-round platform for artists to exhibit their work. Her life and daily commute provide endless material for her imagination to work with.
Claire's career began in a cake shop in St Albans, Hertfordshire. She progressed from jam doughnuts to rum babas but her life was changed forever by the Russian slices.
She studied Russian and Soviet Studies at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, London. In 1991 she was ready to tuck into the next layer of adventure and set off to live in the Soviet Union. When the USSR collapsed shortly after her arrival, she experienced at first hand the challenges faced by ordinary people in the crumbling Soviet empire. Claire lived in Minsk until 1994 and, when she can, returns to Belarus to visit friends.
Settling back in England, she worked at a project for homeless women for 7 years, trained as a spiritual director, studied theology and generally tried to figure out what to do with herself. Finally she graduated from London Met with a degree in Fine Art and won the University's Purchase Prize.
Claire set up the Crypt Gallery at St Pancras Church, London and was its Director for 12 years. During this time she also played a part in developing a small charity called PSALM, bringing creative workshops to older people, carrying the strapline "taking ageing and faith seriously".
Claire has a studio in St Albans and currently works as an administrator in London. Her work includes curating the St Marylebone Art Space which provides a year-round platform for artists to exhibit their work. Her life and daily commute provide endless material for her imagination to work with.
Map of Marylebone, St Marylebone Parish Church
Claire's work decorates offices, bus stops, train stations and a hospital.
Her artwork has been bought by the Hertfordshire County Art Collection (a resource for Hertfordshire schools) and she is author and illustrator of two books of illustrated poetry entitled "Poetry Comic No.1" and "Poetry Comic No.2". In addition to this she has illustrated two Kindle books and has exhibited her paintings in galleries across the UK.
Qualifications and training
2005 - 2009 BA Fine Art (The School of Art, Architecture & Design – London Metropolitan University)
2003 City & Guilds Certificate in Providing Therapeutic Activities for Older People (Royal Hospital, Chelsea)
2000 - 2002 Post Graduate Diploma in Theology (Heythrop College – University of London)
1986 - 1990 BA Russian and Soviet Studies (School of Slavonic & East European Studies - University of London)
Prizes & Commissions
A Map of Marylebone, 12 paintings commissioned by St Marylebone Parish Church in 2022
Ver Poets John Cotton’s Ten-Liners 2021 Winners List & inclusion in the anthology
July 2009 Purchase Prize (London Metropolitan University)
Selected Exhibitions
August 2025 - St Albans Art Society Summer Exhibition, St Albans
May 2025 - St Albans Visual Arts Festival, St Albans
November/December 2024 - "Feathered Friends", St Marylebone Art Space, London
February 2023 - "A Map of Marylebone", St Marylebone Art Space, London
March 2020 - "Equinox", The Crypt, St Marylebone Parish Church, London
Nov 2019 - "The Way We See", The Crypt, St Marylebone Parish Church, London
Sept 2019 - "Herts Open Studios", The Pink Shop, High Barnet
April/May 2019 - "HVA 2019 Big Art Showcase", The New Maynard Gallery, Welwyn Garden City
May 2016 - "Organic Matters", Burgh House, Hampstead
Nov 2014 - Jan 2015 - "Autumn in Cambridge", The Michaelhouse Centre, Cambridge
July 2014 - “Catching the Eye”, The Crypt, St Pancras Church, London
July 2012 - "Layer on Layer", The Crypt, St Pancras Church, London
Oct 2011 - "Random Thoughts", solo exhibition at the Renfield Centre, Glasgow
Dec 2010 - "Merged Stories", Real World Gallery, London E1
Sept 2010 - Creative St Albans/The Big Project, St Albans Town Hall
June 2010 - The St Albans Festival Exhibition of Art, Sculpture & Crafts
Sept/Oct 2009 - "Herts Open Studios", Ashley Hall, St Albans, Herts
Dec 2008 - “Presence” The Crypt, St Pancras Church, London
July 2007 - “The Vanity Show” The Crypt, St Pancras Church, London
June 2004 - “Out of the blue – into the red” The Café Gallery, Mary Ward Centre, London