CAROLINE FORWARD - PAINTER

Caroline’s main inspiration comes from both the local Fen landscape and also from her travels especially the rich ecosystems, coastlines and jungle of Costa Rica and Chile. Some of the lines and marks in her paintings also relate to Medieval graffiti, such as is found in Ely Cathedral, and North Norfolk churches.  She is fascinated by what has been left behind, preserved or changed through the ages, in both the natural and manmade world, which has born witness to the passage of time and people passing through.  Whilst Carolines current inspiration is directly from Costa Rica, it is the universal weathering, constant change, marks of time and change effected by nature and people that interests her.  These marks in nature and those left by people, are witness to the presence of people who have passed through over the ages.  She likes that sense of presence even in absence.

Originally a figurative painter, Caroline now uses oils and cold wax medium to push her work in a more abstracted direction, building layers and texture incorporating marks found on natural surfaces, or motifs and marks made by people which have lasted through the ages.  Her application of layers of paint combined with cold wax medium includes adding and removing, fault lines, erosion, emerging, disappearing, where there is vulnerability which endures, and fragments of reconstruction. exploring the combination of abstracted and figurative elements sitting together within a painting.

Caroline’s work is held in private and corporate collections worldwide. She has been a selected member of Cambridge Drawing Society since 2005, regularly exhibits with Cambridge Open Studios, continues to have work selected for other group exhibitions nationally, and has a portrait published in “Portraits for NHS Heroes” 2020.