Biography

There is a certain spontaneity in all of Emma McClure’s paintings which makes comparisons between her compositions and ‘jazz improvisations’ understandable. Like this form of music, the paintings appear essentially simple, but when one studies them closely this melts away to reveal a very accomplished and well thought out construct. Flat and decorative pieces are in fact deliberately designed as such in order to draw the viewer slowly into the picture without giving away the whole story at once. Initial simplicity in subject and colour give way to well-planned groupings and palette choices which comfort and enchant rather than attempting to confuse or shock as many of McClure’s contemporaries favour.

McClure studied at various art schools during her early career, beginning with Falmouth School of Art in 1980, before moving on to Winchester School of Art in 1981 where she was awarded a an honours degree. After this she took the slightly unusual step of taking a master’s degree at the Chelsea School of Art, graduating from there in 1985. Success followed quickly with her first group show that same year with exhibitions with the Royal Over-Seas League and Contemporary Art Society Art Market at Smiths Gallery. One of her first solo shows was with Vanessa Devereux Gallery in 1986followed by Flowers East, London, also in ’86. More recently McClure’s work has been shown at the Contemporary Art Society and the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

It is still relatively early days for this artist but she has been well received by both the public and critics. Her faux-naïve style wonderfully complements both the composed image and the subject of the paintings, reminding us that beauty can be found in the simplest of images.