Spotlight - Annie Clay, On finding the beauty in the everyday
Based within the creative hub of Bristol at Jamaica Street Studios, Annie Clay’s work finds beauty in the everyday as her captivating landscapes demonstrate the beauty of Bristol and its surroundings. Her style is both unique and distinctive with the time and precision in each piece so evident within her work. There is something about Annie’s work that seems to trigger a sense of familiarity with a place and it was great to sit down and have a chat with Annie about all things inspiration and how working as an artist in Bristol influences her work.
Annie, Jamaica Street Studios
Image by Alice Poole @alicepoole__
Hi Annie! Your style is so distinctive and unique, how did you start your career as an artist? Did one person or thing, in particular, inspire you to create your work?
I studied Fashion & Textile Design at Brighton Uni in the early 2000s and after that followed a commercial path with printed textile design working for high street retailers. I was always drawn to designing by hand - painting and drawing are what I enjoyed most. I moved into painting fine art pieces about 4 years ago and felt inspired for a mix of reasons - mainly that I needed to do something that felt truly creative that wasn't chasing trends. A book that helped me find what I really wanted to do was 'The Artist's Way' by Julia Cameron. For me, a life-changing read!
Wow, I love that book! It’s amazing how something like that can change the course of your career in such a drastic way. Buildings and places are such huge elements within your work. When you choose to paint a building, what are the key things about that place that you’re drawn to?
‘Abacus’ 2018 courtesy of annieclay.co.uk
Image by Jo Hounsome @johounsomephotography
Totally. It's funny, I'm not particularly drawn to paint buildings, it's more the way a space and place makes me feel that makes me want to paint something. I think because I live in a city that's what I'm predominantly surrounded by. I like things that feel strange or sad or seem funny to me. Things we often overlook because we're too busy or not aware of what's really around us that has a subconscious impact on how we feel or go about our day.
Yes, I agree sometimes it’s the beauty in the everyday or the overlooked that we become drawn to. Do you ever find the people within a space can influence your work?
Interesting question! I don't think I am inspired by people in the spaces yet, I'm drawn to space and light and mood. Having said that I'd be up for painting people to see if I could improve - I'm terrible at it! Maybe that's why they don't make an appearance in any.
There is so much precision and accuracy within your work, especially within your landscape pieces. Is there always a lot of meticulous measuring involved or do you work from memory?
Thank you! I don't measure anything or really plan any of my paintings. I paint by eye from photos taken on my phone from exploring places and revisiting spots I find interesting. I like that this way it allows creative freedom and anything to happen and ideas to come up whilst I'm painting a piece. I don't draw onto the canvas or try to get perspectives 'right' as I'm not looking to replicate exactly what I see, it's more getting a feeling or a point of view across.
‘The Colosseum in the Morning’ 2018 courtesy of annieclay.co.uk
Image by Jo Hounsome @johounsomephotography
Your work is so distinctive, I’m so interested in who inspires you to make work. Is there anyone making work at the moment that you look to for inspiration or artists from the past that you take inspiration from?
I love the work of Bristol based artist David Abbott - his landscapes are so beautiful - abstract but familiar. I also love the naive folk paintings of Grandma Moses who started her painting career in her 70's. She paints from her experiences of growing up and working on a farm in The States, they're simple but very heartfelt. There are many more I love but I'll stop there!
That’s so interesting, I love that different works can be both equally inspiring. Your stamp pieces are so eye-catching and unique – I love them! Where did the inspiration come from for these?
Thank you! The stamp paintings were from my old stamp collection that I re-found a couple of years ago. I think I started collecting them when I was 7 years old. They are so fascinating to me, tiny tiny bits of history from decades gone all telling stories about whichever country they are from. Some of the countries don't exist anymore and some have the most amazing illustrations printed on them.
Stamp Collection #1: Nigeria Palm Oil 2020 courtesy of annieclay.co.uk
Image by Jo Hounsome @johoundsomephotography
Your piece ‘Legacy’ made from found materials is another one that really stood out to me, it’s amazing and so different! How long did these materials take to gather and where did you get the inspiration from to make this work?
Aah thanks, it was a bit of a side step from my painting work, but I love using elements of collage and mixed media. I initially started collecting plastic debris from the roads around where I live when I took my first baby out in the pram in lockdowns. It was a way of plugging into something a little bit creative whilst on maternity leave the first time round and with nowhere to go! I reckon they took about a year to collect and my sources ended up being beaches, parks, sandpits, pavements, car parks. I was horrified at how much stuff that ends up kicking around public spaces. When you focus on it it can feel overwhelming. I started to lay all the pieces out when I returned to the studio and found they created a kind of beautiful pattern and story of their own. A woman I met said it reminds her of the contents of her handbag after a Saturday night out!
‘Legacy’ 2021 curtosey of annieclay.co.uk
Image by Jo Hounsome @johounsomephotography
Haha I love that! I can definitely see it! It’s an amazing piece and great that it can resonate with different people for different reasons! Do you think you’ll make any more pieces like this in the future?
I'd love to cover massive unused billboards in debris that I find and make something of all the rubbish that we leave. I think that amount of glue and sticking would do me in though ha ha. I often think about collecting all those awful lateral flow COVID tests and making a piece from them - they're a nightmare for the environment!
Yes, I couldn’t agree more! It would be so nice to see them used for art, the plastic waste is so worrying. Wow, the thought of this work billboard size would be amazing! Do you find that being based in a studio like Jamaica Street Studios has influenced or changed your work in any way?
I think it's made me a lot more focused - it's so motivating working around 30+ artists making a living and creating for a job. Joining the studio 6 years ago set me on the path I'm on now definitely. It enabled me to think about life beyond commercial design work, and want it too! The building is beautiful too, it's a peaceful place to be in the midst of a really busy part of Bristol with huge windows and lots of gorgeous light.
I think you really get that sense of peacefulness from the space too! How does Bristol inspire your work? I notice a few of your paintings are of famous/recognisable Bristol spots?
I think it's the way parts of the city feel and the older buildings and area's I love. Some of the less desirable parts are really appealing - they aren't necessarily beautiful but they have such character.
‘The House with the Pink Door’ 2021 courtesy of annieclay.co.uk
Image by Jo Hounsome @johounsomephotography
I totally agree. I think the less desirable areas make for such interesting work, that’s different from the idyllic landscapes that are more commonly painted. Do you have any plans for when you are back in the studio? Any upcoming exhibitions or events?
Oooh good question, at the moment my hands are so full with a toddler and 4 month old baby but I'm very much looking forward to practicing in the studio again, having a coffee (in peace!) and thinking/seeing what ideas come to fruition. I do have a few ideas for projects that I'm keen to explore more but nothing set in stone as yet.
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