Caroline Ireland is largely self-taught as an artist, who has painted and drawn all her life.  She trained and worked as an archaeologist in the 1970s and 80s, and, after a number of career changes, the decision to work full time at her art came with a move to Bridport in the 1990s, with its thriving artistic community.  She has been living and working in Bridport ever since and shares a studio on St Michael’s Trading estate with her partner, David Brooke.

Her work often has a dream-like quality, expressed in vibrant colours, shapes and lines, inspired by dreams, music or poetry, the observation of everyday objects in the form of still life, or by improvisation with no preconceived ideas about what will emerge.  Her preferred mediums are charcoal, soft pastel and watercolour, often in combinations.

The current exhibition will explore the improvisational aspects of her work, which she calls ‘meditations’, where watercolour is first applied to paper or card and once dry drawn on top with soft pastels, without any planning, just letting the paint and the pastel reveal their magic.  Access for all, Excellent cafe next door, Free car parking and entry.