Governed by mood and emotion, I try to capture a flash of colour, a brief moment, a memory from a distant land, a sense of place, a feeling, atmosphere or expression and find myself subconsciously immersed in a whole new world, whether I am working on a canvas or an illustrative drawing. Being the daughter of a sailor, I have always felt most at home on or near the sea, which often has become a feature in my paintings.

​

I completed a Foundation in Art at the Hotbath Gallery, Bath College in 1998 and have exhibited and sold work in the West Country, East Anglia and abroad as well as completing a number of private commissions.  Between 1999 and 2013 I was based in Suffolk where I co-established an artists cooperative, White Spirit Arts which provided a platform for emerging artists to market and exhibit their works through pop up group shows in the East Anglian region.

From 2011 to 2013, I worked in an administrative capacity alongside the art dealer Caroline Wiseman at the Arthouse and Aldeburgh Beach Lookout based on Benjamin Britten's Aldeburgh Beach, which provided me with valuable knowledge and experience of the art world for which I am extremely grateful.

​

Life events resulted in my move  to Dorset in 2014 and I am now permanently based overlooking the famous Chesil beach on the Isle of Portland. I am blessed to have unparalleled views, a fascinating history and dramatic coastline on my doorstep providing me with a vast array of visual stimuli and subject matter from which to work.  

I am passionate about the world around us, the interaction between man and beast and focus on sketching with pen and ink to produce illustrative gestural drawings which incorporate colourful splashes and touch on expression.   My relationship with the animal world tends to feature heavily in my work, with a love in particular for drawing elephants, giraffes and camels.

My creative journey led to me branching into surface pattern with elements from my work being scanned into the computer and digitally manipulated to create pattern repeats for use on fabric, paper and ceramics. I am in the process of creating my own unique digital library that is available to license.

​

With an interest in psychology, therapy, mental health and well being, I studied Level II Counselling Studies in 2024 which has been invaluable for coming to terms with my own historical trauma and crises, contributed to a deep understanding of the need for compassion, empathy and kindness and guided my own emotional awareness whilst helping me to secure a stronger sense of self, to continue to fulfil my dreams and help others where possible.  To this end, I am too in the process of writing and illustrating some short stories for children.

​

In 2025, following my own health crisis and foreboding empty nest syndrome, I decided to return to study as a mature student and undertook an Fda in Digital Design and Media specialising in graphic design, with the third year due to complete a Bachelor of Arts at Yeovil College University Centre in 2028. This has been a wonderful experience to hone my software skills as a graphic designer and illustrator allowing me to broaden my horizons, stretch my creative boundaries and work a little more commercially whilst retaining my own signature style. ​

​

With many thanks for reading and please do not hesitate to contact me if you are interested in discussing future projects or any of my work.

Candida Crockett