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Claire Hankey- Recollections I_

About the artist- Claire Hankey



ARTIST, EDUCATOR, NATURE LOVER. . 

 

Capturing the Beauty of Memory and Nature in Atmospheric Abstract Paintings.

Claire Hankey Artist
ClaireHankey_instudio.jpg
'Art that captures the beauty of
fragmentation and fragility.'

Hello, I'm Claire - 

From my studio in Leigh on Sea in Essex, I create paintings and mixed media pieces that offer moments of calm and reflection. My goal is to invite you into a space of discovery through my work, where each piece tells it's own quiet story. 

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Claire Hankey Artist.jpeg
Garden poems by Claire Hankey
Viridian Estuary by Claire Hankey

Inspiration is Everywhere.

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Take a peek through my artist’s lens...

I grew up in the North West of England, and many of my earliest memories are tied to the landscapes there. I find inspiration in the wild hedgerows, moving tree canopies and marshes near my home on the thames Estuary. Glimmers of landscapes, shadows cast on a patio, and ambiguous plant forms are all recurring motifs within my work. These places and vignettes hold hidden beauty and stories that I capture in my art, encouraging you to pause and uncover what lies beneath the surface.

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Unearthing layers of meaning.

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My creative process is deeply intuitive and experimental. I work with layers of paint, collage, and wax, blending these materials with vintage papers and fragments from my mother’s old dress patterns. Through this process of building up layers and uncovering hidden details, my goal is to create depth, texture, and atmosphere. Each piece invites viewers to engage not just with what’s on the surface, but to discover what lies beneath.

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Weathered surfaces and the passage of time.

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The layers in my work are often sanded back, creating tactile surfaces that remind me of weathered forms shaped by time. This method evokes the feeling of something that has been touched by the elements, a sense of the past woven into the present. It’s an exploration of how time and nature leave their marks on the world—and on my art.

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Inspired by nature's forms.

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My connection to nature plays a central role in my process. Plants collected from my garden and on estuary walks serve as both mark-making tools and inspiration for ongoing work. I press botanical prints and use handmade collage papers, embedding them into the layers of my paintings to add a sense of mystery and provenance.

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Connecting to personal memories.

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At its core, my art is about connection. I hope that when viewers look at my paintings, they experience a visual journey that leads them to reflect on their own memories of nature. Each piece offers a moment to pause, engage with the textures, and perhaps connect with a deeper, personal story within themselves.​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Claire Hankey Recollections I Printed with beautiful archival inks.- museum quality
Claire Hankey Collage Course in Mixed Media Painting
Claire Hankey Painter Leigh-on-Sea
Claire Hankey at work in her Studio in Leigh-on-Sea

For artists

Join my mailing list to gain access to a password protected page, where I share all the materials I'm using at the moment and what I'm working on.... Fill out the form below and be sure to enter what you are interested in hearing about! 

Claire Hankey at work in her Studio

Bio and qualifications.

BA in Art History (Hons) from University College London. 

PGCE in Art Education- Anglia

I have taken many in person and online art courses over the last 3 years including The Creative Visionary Program (CVP).

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Past Exhibitions 

The Society of Women Artist’s Exhibition 2019- The Mall Galleries, London

The Curator’s Salon Autumn Exhibition- global online exhibition 2020

Solo show- ‘Foraged Marks’ 2022- at Create98 in Leigh on Sea, Essex.

The Leigh Art Trail 2022- 2024.

Equinox- Aldeburgh Contemporary Art 2022.

Highgate Contemporary Art- Summer Show 2023.

Wells Contemporary Art (WAC)- Wells Cathedral- August 2023.

'The Pull of The Land'- The Lightbox, Woking, Surrey- November 2023.

The Clifftown Telephone Box Museum, Southend, Essex. April 2024.

The Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donnington,- Summer Show 2024.

Art in Offices- you can rent my work for workspaces here

Milieu Studios, St Ives, Cornwall - Winter Show 2024.

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I understand that choosing art for your home can take time. If you'd like to see my new work first, receive invitations and tips on hanging and framing art, fill out the form at the bottom of this page. 

Claire Hankey artist
Earth Sonnet II by Claire Hankey

Claire's beautiful paintings have helped to bring a feeling of calm to my therapy room. I love the subtle textures and colour palette.' Jeanette. 

Claire Hankey Signature
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