Carole Hawthorne’s abstract paintings are developed from a keen interest in structures, systems, layers and patterns often found in the urban landscape.

Some of her work reflects geometry, for instance, a series of paintings based on Islamic architecture and Moorish decoration found in southern Spain observed when she visited last year.

There is an element of accident and risk within the work. Her palette changes frequently to allow her to explore the infinite possibilities colour offers.

She is rigorous in her process, she makes colour swatches which are referred to in order to search for values, weight and tension.

Carole makes paintings on canvas and paper, these involve layering and masking to create surface texture.

She has also produced a series of Three Dimensional wall pieces, these are constructed in wood and painted with acrylic paint. They are concerned with how colour behaves when it moves over a three dimensional surface and the way it creates optical illusion and shadows.

These pieces are exploring the idea of the ‘object’ rather than the picture plane and are intended to create visual interest when seen from different viewpoints.

Most recently the paintings are based on the spacial relationships between objects and form a new series of work.

Colour is applied, erased then lost in a covering of glaze, then allowed to emerge again. They are very much about paint quality and surface.