Mary MacCarthy

I am influenced by Matisse, Bonnard, Cedric Morris and Richard Deibenkorn, amongst many others but my inspiration comes from my garden: growing flowers and veg to paint, pots and pans, tabletops. I also love the colours of the country, and textiles from around the world, and ceramics.  

I paint in oils, and draw in sketchbooks, particularly when travelling. I like the fluidity and freeness of charcoal and pastel, especially at life drawing.  Sometimes use acrylic.

My studio is a small barn with lovely North light but very cold in the winter.  I like to go outside to get to my studio even though the barn is attached to the house. It feels Iike going to work!

A landscape of the Norfolk coast, which is a commission, and also decorative panels for a newly restored Norfolk farmhouse. I am trying to push my work in other directions but am always drawn back to Still Lives of flowers and veg in season, which I find so irresistible. 

I trained in printed textile design and painting at Camberwell School of Art & Des. I became a freelance decorative painter using stencils, working for clients, in England, Spain and USA. I wrote three books on design and pattern. Then painted commissioned murals until painting pictures began to take over.