Carisia Ta Torin
Carisia’s artistic journey began at Penwith College in Penzance, where she studied art. She then moved away from Cornwall to study fashion design and illustration at Lincoln University, later pursuing a Masters in Authorial Illustration Practice at Falmouth University. Over the years, she has published two books and participated in numerous exhibitions across Cornwall. She continues to evolve her artistic practice and currently, after many years, she feels that her art is progressing in a direction she’s genuinely happy with.
Carisia is deeply influenced by her surroundings, drawing inspiration from nature’s changing landscapes, animals, bold colours, and large shapes. Generally, she works as a mixed-media artist, although she has a particular fondness for acrylic paint because of its vibrant colours.
Her paintings feature many textures and layers, often incorporating elements like paper and modelling paste. When sketching outdoors, she frequently uses watercolours, though recently she has started bringing her acrylic paints with her. Since she doesn’t always decide in advance what she’ll use, she brings along a trolley stocked with all her supplies, ensuring she has everything she might need.
Based in the charming seaside town of Hayle in Cornwall, Carisia’s studio is located at the back of Hayle Emporium, a popular shop specialising in Indian furniture and curiosities. Her studio is open to the public daily, allowing visitors to observe her at work and view her artwork. If she’s not in, it likely means she’s out with her sketchbook.
Currently, she is working on new pieces inspired by a recent visit to Glendurgan Gardens. The National Trust opened the garden for two days last month, inviting artists to immerse themselves in the environment, paint, sketch, and prepare pieces for an upcoming exhibition this October. Among these pieces is a small painting of a dragonfly that hovered near her while she sketched by the pond.