Clare’s artistic voyage

CLARE Wright with one of her striking artworks

From ship’s officer to painting success

WHEN it comes to working with oils, artist Clare Wright can top-trump just about anybody else who ever picked up a paintbrush.

Clare, who will be exhibiting at Housing Units in Failsworth on Saturday, comes to town via the Atlantic Ocean, the Cape of Good Hope and the Persian Gulf among other places . . . as a former navigation officer on the world’s third biggest oil tanker.

“It’s a bit more oil than I’d use for a painting, but I used to be responsible for much of the running of 536,000 tonnes of oil tanker, and loading and unloading 900,000 barrels of oil,” said Clare (39).

“I was very good at art as a child — I maybe picked something up from my uncle, renowned equestrian artist Desmond Tallon, who painted Red Rum and Shergar — but I never thought I’d turn it into making a living.

“I dabbled a little, and if I had time on long voyages then I’d relax by painting on the ship, but I saw seafaring as my career.

“After I left my role as a navigation officer on the tanker Esso Mediterranean, I became Liverpool Docks’ first female dockmaster — but I developed a back injury which nearly paralysed me.

“I took time off, painting became a therapy, and when it became apparent that my back was worse than originally thought, I had no option but to leave. But painting just took over.”

Contrary to expectation, Clare does few if any sea-themed paintings, but instead has developed a collection of styles involving unusual effects and materials.

Nick Fox, of Housing Units, said: “What drew Clare to our attention was a fantastic take on bringing 3-D into art. Clare produces some of her work in metal and glass which has to be seen to be appreciated, but makes the content jump out.”

Clare, who will be exhibiting some of her metal range at Housing Units, said: “I’ve created a style that is child-friendly, waterproof, suitable for kitchens and bathrooms, and can even survive student food fights — works of art that wipe clean.”

Such has been Clare’s rise to prominence that she was commissioned as part of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year to create what was probably her busiest canvas: the city’s entire social and entertainment scene and history on one 2.5m by 1.2m canvas.

It raised £3,000 for charity at auction.