Corrie Chiswell Artist

Chiswell’s art embraces realism but this direct representation of nature is only a means to an end. Her art does not simply depict but endeavours to evoke through a visual language those things that we do not see. Her perception of reality can be compared to a crime scene where clues are left to indicate what is happening. In much of her work she uses symbolism that embraces dual and frequently opposing meanings. This visual ambiguity contributes to the dreamlike quality of the work and acknowledges the canvas as a portal to another world – a world where there is freedom to create or manipulate anything. Through this symbolism she invites the viewer to decipher an underlying cryptic narrative that reflects her interaction with her environment. Although the work is often intense and introspective, it challenges the viewer to explore and recognize themes of universal experience.

Corrie Chiswell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1963. Her family is originally from the Western Isles but she spent most of her early years in the Scottish Borders and Central Highlands. She studied art at Fettes College where she was taught by the Scottish painter John Brown RSA, and won ‘The Andrew Campell Memorial Prize for Art’. She accepted a place at Exeter College Oxford in 1981 and graduated with a Batchelor of Fine Art, specialising in painting, from The Ruskin School of Drawing. She left Oxford in 1985 and traveled extensively, living and working from her studios in Australia and America until 1995, when she returned to the United Kingdom. In both countries she painted murals in public and private buildings, while creating smaller works on canvas. She moved to Wales in 1996 and now works from her studio in Cardiff.