CCAD Entertainment Design Crafts degree alumni Emily Carter, who graduated in 2006, from Todmorden West Yorkshire, will be launching her first solo exhibition Feeling into the unknown at Hartlepool Art Gallery this month. The exhibition will feature work from her student adult learners and explores her creative practice exploring “grief, emotion, and inner experience through intuitive painting whilst connecting to spirit and energy that is all around us that we cannot see.” Emily’s collection of work “combines her life-long obsession with colour and her innate love of the natural world..experimenting with bold, colourful gestures in a breathtaking showcase of artworks.”

Emily has worked as an art teacher of 15 years and “left in 2023 to be a full time artist. I am an abstract painter; I started in 2019 after not doing any art work for myself for 10 years, but doing it all for the children I taught. After my little girl was born, something massive opened up in me and I felt a massive urge to paint again. This is where it all began.”

Emily used her practice to process grief after a experiencing a number of deaths in her family she explains “I was pretty numb and needed to express it.  My current practice explores grief, emotion, and inner experience through intuitive painting. After meditation, I often paint with my eyes closed, allowing colour and movement to emerge. I use divination within my practice and connect with loved ones whilst expressing my spiritual self.”

The opportunity to produce her own solo show came about “after doing years of adult art classes in the town and at Hartlepool gallery,  I was given the opportunity to showcase my colourful artworks. I have 75% of the space – starting with parental influences as a child and their art, early childhood and experiences, massive grief and loss and then my current work. It is about mental heath, finding a spiritual path and connecting and expressing through paint, meditation and divination.”

When asked how it felt to be launching her first solo exhibition she said, “amazing, I have only been out of teaching for 2 years into a whole new world of the art scene not knowing anyone to my first massive solo show. This has all happened through real connection, networking and self belief. I am buzzing my chops off!!”

Emily has included her student’s pieces in the showcase she reflects “my students have been with me since about May 2022. I have built up my regular art class, Sip and Paints and intuitive, spiritual art sessions. This exhibition is giving them an opportunity to show case their work, to know that they are enough and know that they can use art as a form of expression without judgement or pressure. I wish I had had this opportunity and so I am giving it to others. There are 10 to 15 students showcasing work from around the North East. I am extremely proud of them for putting themselves out there!”

Emily’s exhibition opens on January 31st and is open to the public April 18th at Hartlepool Art Gallery!  You can check out her work on IG: @eccarterart. You can also look at her work on her website. 

Visitors to our next open day can visit Emilys exhibition – which is located at Hartlepool Art Gallery in the middle of our campus – at on our next degree-level open day on March 21st! Book your place today!