Claire Juliette Burgoyne
Large hanging oil painting on unprimed canvas and ‘Into The Woods’, on gessoed canvas.
Living in Leigh-On-Sea, Essex, I enjoy swimming in the Thames Estuary.
A large and important part of my life has been bringing up five sons as a single parent, and as a perpetual collector of items that interest me, I have horded memorabilia from this happy, albeit chaotic, period. My art is regularly autobiographical, I abstract concepts of my life into my art, and create alternative family portraits, sculpturing physical objects from my collections. I have included using my artist mother’s and model painter son’s used paint-palettes and old trainers worn by my sons. I am interested in materials and materiality, fluttering between serious and playful subjects, in an abstract and expressive manner. I enjoy the hands-on connection of making. I aim for a tactile sensory experience.
Place plays a significant role in my making. I am inspired by the Thames Estuary and swimming in the brackish tidal water: this provides rhythms for movement, flow and patterns. I place myself in the sea when joyfully painting large canvases of colour. Making becomes a dance of the head and hands. A memory for me is often triggered by smell, and the salty smells of the Thames Estuary provoke, sparking me with new ideas.
I have drawn inspiration from Louise Bourgeois, her emotional connection to her subject matter, and intuitive, intimate unconscious-mind watercolors and drawings. I have always admired Bourgeois’ use of yarns in her practice. Phyllida Barlow has been an influence, her expressive, colourful drawings and sculptures, and use of materials that allure touch. Inspiration is also taken from Gillian Ayres, her vibrant, limited colour palette and simple forms.
My practice is experimental, divergent, exciting, and scary. I am anxious when my private making has a public audience, with the precarity of presenting something different. I work at my best instinctively, working on multiple pieces at the same time; these being sculptures and painting.
Inspiration is drawn from human connection and behaviours, personal experience, contemporary and historical art practices, and history. I am interested in life enrichment, sea swimming, and challenging political injustices, social issues and environmental concerns, with these themes appearing throughout my artwork.
I am an artist producing collections of sculptures, site-specific installations, mixed media pieces, prints and abstract paintings. Along with creating independently I also work on collaborative community projects.
I believe creating art is a way of thinking, exploring, learning, communicating and fun, that everyone should have access to.
As one of the Artists in Residence at Leigh-On-Sea Community Centre, and a member of the art collective, Dorisarty, I organise and run, inclusive History of Art discussion evenings and creative workshops for all people of the community, honing my facilitation skills, and nurturing the participants’ creative potential.
C.V.
Email: claire.juliette.art@outlook.com
Insta: claire.juliette.burgoyne
AWARDS
‘Hannah Miller’ Award 2024
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
‘L’art au lavoir 2025 Temps et Espace’, Le Lavoir, Dun-Le-Palestel, France, artistes internationaux.
‘BA Hons Degree Show’, Three Rooms Gallery, E17 9LH. June 2025, Emillie Docherty, Maddi Crease, Ellen Millington, Milly Curwood, Emily Gorham, Claire Burgoyne, Billie Martin, John Oxley, Courtney Norrington and Ciara Adams.
‘B A Hons Degree Show’, South Essex College, 22/5/2025, Emillie Docherty, Maddi Crease, Ellen Millington, Milly Curwood, Emily Gorham, Claire Burgoyne, Billie Martin, John Oxley, Courtney Norrington and Ciara Adams.
‘Dorisarty in the Community Centre’, Leigh-On-Sea Community Centre Art Wall, 24/2/25 – 4/4/25, Anne Pettenuzzo, Claire Burgoyne and Christine Hayhurst.
‘Community Art Installation Purple Butterflies’, Leigh-On-Sea Community Centre Café Art Wall, 2/12/24 – 28/12/24, Claire Burgoyne and, Anne Pettenuzzo and work made by Participants.
‘L’art au lavoir 2024 L’air’, Le Lavoir, Dun-Le-Palestel, France, artistes internationaux.
‘Dorisarty in the Café’, Leigh-On-Sea Community Centre Café Art Wall, 16/7/24 – 3/8/24, Claire Burgoyne, Anne Pettenuzzo and Peter Ruddock.
‘Artists in Residence: Dorisarty’, Leigh-On-Sea Community Centre Art Wall, 4/3/24 – 12/4/24, Anne Pettenuzzo, Claire Burgoyne and Christine Hayhurst.
‘Site-Specific Fine Art, Year 2, 2024’, Beecroft Gallery and Southend Central Museum, Victoria Avenue, 6th February 2024, Maddi Crease, John Oxley, Courtney Norrington, Sarah Connolly, Claire Burgoyne, Billie Martin, Ellen Millington, Milly Curwood, Ciara Adams, Emily Gorham and Millie Docherty.
‘L’art au lavoir 2023 Feu’, Le Lavoir, Dun-Le-Palestel, France, July- August 2023, artistes internationaux.
‘Dorisarty and Guests’, Fishermen’s Chapel, New Road, Leigh-On-Sea, 1/7/23 – 6/7/23, Anne Pettenuzzo, Claire Burgoyne, Peter Ruddock, Dorota Bouali and Sarah Connolly.
‘New Artists in Residence Exhibition: Dorisarty and Judith Lyall’, Leigh-On-Sea Community Centre Art Wall, 3/4/23-12/5/23, Anne Pettenuzzo, Claire Burgoyne, Peter Ruddock and Judith Lyall.
‘Dorisarty Exhibition’, Leigh-On-Sea Community Centre Art Wall, 9/1/23 – 17/2/23, Emma Mills, Claire Burgoyne and Anne Pettenuzzo.
‘L’art au lavoir 2022 Terre’, Le Lavoir, Dun-Le-Palestel, France, July – August 2022, artistes internationaux.
‘Dorisarty’, Fishermen’s Chapel, New Road, Leigh-On-Sea, 4/6/22 – 11/6/22, Claire Burgoyne, Emma Mills and Anne Pettenuzzo.
‘L’art au lavoir 2021 L’eau’, Le Lavoir, Dun-Le-Palestel, France, August-September 2021, artistes internationaux.
‘Dorisarty, Pop Up’, Fishermen’s Chapel, New Road, Leigh-On-Sea, 19/4/21 – 1/5/21, Anne Pettenuzzo , Claire Burgoyne and Emma Mills.
CURRENT EMPLOYMENT
Higher Education Outreach Ambassador
University Centre South Essex, Elmer Square, Southend-On-Sea, SS1 1NE.
January 2024 – Present day.
ART EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS
Art Discussion Evenings
I facilitate with Anne Pettenuzzo, an inclusive, community, History of Art Discussion Evening, monthly, at Leigh Community Centre as one of the Artists in Residence and a member of Dorisarty.
Workshops
I have facilitated community art workshops at Leigh Community Centre, as one of the Artists in Residence and a member of Dorisarty. These include: The Community Art Installation: Purple Butterflies, A Mosaic Project Design Workshop, Under Fives Elephant Art Fun (Lead by Anne Pettenuzzo), Elephant Drawing Activities, Artist in Residence Christmas Workshop, and Origami Workshops for an Ephemeral Art Installation.
Performance
I have written and performed poetry and spoken word, notably: Leigh Folk Festival, Peggy Sues in Leigh-On-Sea, The Essex Book Festival in The Railway Public House Southend, Twenty One Southend, and Electric Tea Set in Leigh-on-Sea.
EDUCATION
University Centre South Essex – 2022 – 2025
BA Hons Fine Art (First Class)
South Essex College – 2021 – 2022
Access to Higher Education Diploma in Art and Design (Distinction)
Adult Education – 2008 – 2018
History of Art courses