Claire Phillips

Contemporary potrait artist born in Hammersmith, England.

My work explores the relationship between artist, subject and viewer and the contribution of each into the creation of a work of art. The subject, although ultimately at the mercy of the artists interpretation, inevitably reveals aspects of his character through, for example, the clothes he wears.

The artist acts as director, selecting the subject and composition, and varying paint density and clarity to draw into focus certain areas, while leaving others undefined and insubstantial. This juxtaposition of different visual languages draws the viewer into the physicality of the paint and canvas the image, although rooted in reality, is not a fact but the creation of artistic rendition.

Finally, although guided by the artist, the remaining contribution to the painting is that of the viewer whose own personal experiences will define his response to, and interpretation of the work.