BIOGRAPHY

Claire lives in Gloucestershire with her husband, daughter and step-son. She has an established picture framing business, specializing in frame restoration and gilding.

She uses her extensive knowledge of gilding and an abundance of glass off cuts to create her Verre Églomisé pieces, combining her life-long love of drawing and art education, which include an Art and Design Diploma and a Degree in Design.

Claires inspiration predominantly comes from the natural world, and growing up in rural Gloucestershire, she has always had a fascination with insects, birds, reptiles and plant life.

Working from her own photographs she produces highly detailed works in gold leaf of varying carat, constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries of this century’s old technique!

Restricted by the scale of gold leaf (8x8cm) Claire began working in miniature scale, carefully marrying up subject matter with complimentary gold leaf panels.

Encouraged to submit her work to the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers (RMS) annual exhibition in London, she was honoured to receive the 'Gold Memorial Bowl Honourable Mention' Award for two consecutive years (2015 & 2016). She was also elected as an Associate member (ARMS) in 2016 and had two articles published in the summer and autumn editions of Artists & Illustrators magazine.

In 2017, Claire exhibited and sold works at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) Bristol in the Autumn exhibition and the bi annual ‘Drawn’ exhibition. Also exhibiting work with the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington DC (MPSGS).

In 2018 Claire became a member of the Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) receiving an award for her Botanical work ‘Autumn’s Bounty’. She also exhibited and sold work at the Hilliard Society in Somerset and The Snow Goose Gallery in Pennsylvania, USA.

Claire has also been honoured further by being elected as a full member of the Royal Miniature Society (RMS) .

For the 2019 Miniature Art Society of Florida exhibtion Claire's work ‘Pleasant Pheasant' has received an award in the Bird category. She also recieved a 'Gold Memorial Bowl Honourable Mention' in the Royal Miniature Society exhibition.

Claire also had an article published in Artists and Illustrators magazine, entitled 'Working with gold leaf and the art of Verre Eglomise' which lead to appering on Channel 4 'Kirsties Handmade Christmas' in December (episode 11).

Claire has had a lovely start to 2020 as she has been invited to become a member of The Miniature Society of Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Washington DC (MPSGS) - a sister society to the Royal Miniature Society'.

Exhibitions 2020

Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. Nov 16, 2019 - Jan 5 2020
Miniature Society of Florida Annual exhibition January 19th - February 9th 2020
Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers - Mall Galleries, London.

Exhibitions 2019

Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington, D.C. Nov 17, 2018 - Jan 6 2019
Miniature Society of Florida Annual exhibition January 20th - February 10th 2019
The Snow Goose Gallery - Miniatures from Around the World. May 5- June 9 2019 Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Bath Society of Artists - 18th May to 29th June 2019. Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath.
Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers - 28th November - Sunday 8th December 2019. Mall Galleries, London.

Kirsties Handmade Christmas

As seen on Channel 4 'Kirsties Handmade Christmas' - (December 9th - episode 11)

Angel of the Stars - 23ct gold leaf with 7.2ct white gold leaf on glass - Verre Eglomise by Claire Russell

Artists & Illustrators

Claire had an article published in the Artists and Illustrators magazine, entitled 'Working with gold leaf and the art of Verre Eglomise'

Events

In May 2018 Claire and four others from the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers had the honour of attending the 70th Birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales in the beautiful grounds of Buckingham palace.