Caroline’s love of Newcastle beach inspires St Patrick Centre exhibition

5 February 2020

A NEWCASTLE artist’s fascination with the town’s famous beach has inspired her latest exhibition.

Caroline Williamson is showing over 30 pieces of her work throughout February at the St Patrick’s Centre in Downpatrick.

Just opened this week, Caroline said that the exhibition is called ‘Shell Sounds from the Shore’.

She said: “One of my fondest memories is walking down the Newcastle beach, collecting shells with my grandmother. She told me each shell could make a different sound. I would collect them and bring them home to listen to before I went to sleep that night.

“My exhibition is a visual collection and interpretation of that particular and peculiar memory of my grandmother. I hope people enjoy this exhibition, all artworks are for sale and studio visits and commissioned work is welcome.”

Caroline is a mixed-media artist which means she uses a variety of paints and mediums, including photography and found items to create her work.

She explained: “I usually work on boards and tend to use whatever paint I feel is right for the piece, that can be anything from spray paint to oil paint. I usually use brushes but I can use my fingers, even sandpaper, and all sorts of techniques to get the finish I want, whether it’s inspired by the sea or the mountains.

“I was reared at the foot of the Mournes and that was where we would go to walk and to play. Everything seemed to happen there and the mountains was a place to escape the humdrum of life, it’s always inspired me.”

A graduate in Fine Art, Caroline has previously studied at the Chelsea School of Art in London, National College Of Art and Design in Dublin and University Of Ulster in Belfast.

A regular exhibitor locally, the overriding theme of her art over the years has been her beloved Mournes.

Last summer Caroline exhibited Time and Tide at Kilkeel Library as well as Newcastle Library.

In 2014, she displayed 40 pieces from the collection, The Irish Sea and Slievenaman, at Lisburn City Library.

For more information visit www.carolinewilliamsonartist.com

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