I grew up in Italy, Florence where I studied art. After further studies in Birmingham and 30 years in various fields of architecture in the UK I took a Masters in the conservation of historic buildings at Bath University. I now work as a conservation architect in the Midlands.

My art practice is primarily concerned with man-made landscapes; industrial landscapes reclaimed by nature where it is it is still possible to imagine industry or ‘natural’ landscapes that are vast and dramatic.

My paintings begin outside where I make quick sketches of these places to capture the memory and fleeting sensations they give me. After, I process and explore this narrative in the studio where paintings emerge slowly, adding my own reality to the scenes I observed. These times and reinventions aim to give restitution to the ordinary scenes I depict and offer ambiguity which I hope the viewers can consider and resolve themselves.

Although I sketch in charcoal, inks and pastels I paint mainly in oils on aluminium board, gesso boards and canvas because I love the possibilities of the process and how the various materials react.

I also print monoprints, colleographs and reduction linocuts.

www.mcgart.co.uk

www.instagram.com/mcristinagardiner/