BIOGRAPHY
Claire has an established picture framing business based in Stone, Gloucestershire where she specializes in frame restoration and gilded frames. Claire uses her extensive knowledge of gilding and an abundance of glass off cuts to create her Verre Églomisé art pieces.
Claires art education include an Art and Design Foundation Diploma and a Degree in Design. Claire is also a full member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers, the Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers Society of Washington DC and Miniature Art Society of Florida.
Growing up in rural Gloucestershire, Claire has had a deep respect and love of nature which constantly provide inspirational subjects to capture in gold leaf.
Why Miniatures?
The scale of gold leaf is 8x8cm (3x3") and subjects that fit neatly into this format swiftly become miniature.
Having also worked for the Royal Miniature Society as the Executive Secretary for a couple of years, the art work on show was simply mind blowing and she was inspired and encouraged to give it a go
In 2014 Claire had her first three eglomise pieces accepted and hung at the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers (RMS) annual exhibition in London.
In 2015 & 2016, Claires work received the 'Gold Memorial Bowl Honourable Mention' Award and she was elected as an Associate member of the Royal Miniature Society (ARMS).
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 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 also had the pleasure of being elected a full member (RMS) of the Royal Miniature Society a year early, an honour only ever awarded to a handful of people, 'Due to the exceptional quality and consistency of your work the President and Council members are delighted to grant you full membership'.
For the 2019 Miniature Art Society of Florida exhibition Claire's work ‘Pleasant Pheasant' has received an award in the Bird category and 'Nap Time - Hamadryas Baboon' recieved the 'Gold Memorial Bowl Honourable Mention' award in the Royal Miniature Society exhibition, London.
Claire also wrote an article and it was published in the Artists and Illustrators magazine, entitled 'Working with gold leaf and the art of Verre Eglomise'. This lead to an appreance on Channel 4's 'Kirsties Handmade Christmas' in December 2019 (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) - The sister society to the Royal Miniature Society, Claire also recieved an award for her piece 'Sun Worshiper'.
awards
Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington DC
THIRD PLACE COLLAGE/MIXED MEDIA 2020
'Sun Worshiper'
8x7cm 21.8ct moon gold leaf verre églomisé
Royal Miniature Society
GOLD BOWL HONORABLE MENTION 2019
'Nap Time - Hamadryas Baboon'
8x8cm 21.8ct moon gold leaf verre églomisé
Miniature Society of Florida
SECOND PLACE BIRD CATEGORY 2019
'Pleasant Pheasant'
8x8cm 23ct gold leaf verre églomisé
Miniature Society of Florida
SECOND PLACE FLORAL & BOTANICAL CATEGORY 2018
'Autumns Bounty'
8x8cm 23ct gold leaf verre églomisé
8x8cm 23ct gold leaf verre églomisé
Royal Miniature Society
GOLD BOWL HONORABLE MENTION 2016
'Balancing Act'
8x8cm 23ct gold leaf verre églomisé
8x8cm 23ct gold leaf verre églomisé
Royal Miniature Society
GOLD BOWL HONORABLE MENTION 2015
'I'm Watching You!'
8x8cm 23ct gold leaf verre églomisé
8x8cm 23ct gold leaf verre églomisé
Exhibitions 2020
Due to Covid-19 exhibitions that Claire normally participates in are cancelled.
However, the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers have thier exhibition online, where you can view and purchase works from the comfort of your own home!
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 - By Invitation only. 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.
TV appearances Kirsties Handmade Christmas
Channel 4 'Kirsties Handmade Christmas' - (December 9th 2019 - episode 11)
Angel of the Stars - 23ct gold leaf with 7.2ct white gold leaf on glass - Verre Eglomise by Claire Russell
Magazine articlesArtists & Illustrators
Claire had an article published in the Artists and Illustrators magazine, entitled 'Working with gold leaf and the art of Verre Eglomise'
Artists & Illustrators
Claire had a short step by step article published in the Artists and Illustrators magazine.
Artists & Illustrators
Claire had an article entitled 'What is...Verre Eglomise?published in the Artists and Illustrators magazine.
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.