Artist Claire McCarthy exhibits 'Art on The Mersey' on The Danny July 7th 11am to 4pm
Published: 26th Jun
Artist Claire McCarthy will hold a pop-up exhibition on The Danny on July 7th 11am to 4pm at Albert Dock.
Liverpool artist captures magic of the Mersey with her work Expressive Art on the Mersey.
Expressive Art on The Mersey explores river, docks and Mersey Ferries
· Expressive Art on the Mersey is Claire McCarthy’s first major solo exhibition.
Starting in May 2016, Claire embarked on an unprecedented art experience, boarding Mersey ferries and landing stages with her easels, watercolours, canvas and paints, challenging herself to build a new portfolio from ‘plein air’ painting.
The resulting work captures the turbulent and restless nature of the River Mersey as well as its beauty, natural rhythms and serenity. Canvases and watercolours depict views of the river, the maritime industries and the historic Mersey Ferry crossing.
Claire said: “Painting from the Mersey Ferries and landing stages was a wonderful experience. It was great meeting ferry captains and crew - true mariners with such wonderful knowledge about the river and maritime community.
“I challenged myself by painting on the bow of the boat or sitting on the bridge or upper deck. Wading through the Mersey tide whilst working on board was extraordinary - sometimes tough but always exhilarating. Every time I came away from the water I felt elevated and inspired.”
The paintings vary from big bold canvases to watercolours which are mere wisps of colour, extremes that reflect the range of life and experience on the River Mersey in all its moods.”
This is not the first time Claire has exhibited her work. In 2012 her painting ‘Council House Window and Kitchen Sink in the Morning’ was accepted by the prestigious Mall Galleries Threadneedle Prize Exhibition.
Claire originally majored in fine art at Liverpool Hope University and later completed a post-graduate degree at Liverpool John Moores University, qualifying and then working as a teacher.
While working as a teacher she also produced works of art and her work included a piece she sold to the Liverpool Women’s Hospital. She left teaching in 2009 to help care for her mother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
In the last few years Claire has relaunched her career as an artist and was inspired to produce this latest exhibition after listening to The Ship, an album by music artist Brian Eno.
Claire added: “It wasn’t until I started producing these works that I realised the strong connection I felt to the river and the maritime industry. My father was a hardworking docker who grew up close to the river on Great Howard Street, and his father, my Grandad McCarthy from Cork, Ireland was a bosun. He had a taste for the sea from an early age, stowing away on a ship at age of 12 – he didn’t come back for a year.”
“The river is so powerful and a gateway to so much life – to our future and our history. It is a source of energy and renewal for all of us in this city and I will continue to explore its beauty.”
Expressive Art on the Mersey has been sponsored by Mersey Ferries, Pip Seymour Fine Art Suppliers, The Dures Partnership, Bibby Marine Service, Liverpool Propeller Club.
