Charlotte Sainsbury - Open Studios

Colourful, textured oil paintings and handmade collagraph prints inspired by the Rame Peninsula and moorlands of Cornwall.

Living on an estuary, where the river Tamar meets the sea, I cannot help but be influenced by my surroundings of coastal paths, boatyards, tidal changes and mudflats. Weather-beaten surfaces, peeling paint and redundant manmade structures set against the natural environment feed my inspiration. I try to reflect these influences using a variety of materials – oil and cold wax paint, collagraph printmaking and the building of low relief plaster panels – all of which are excellent mediums for producing the surface texture that I love. Each of these methods involves building the surface and then scratching into it to reveal hidden layers, marks and interesting textures with unexpected reveals of colour.

The Rame Peninsula is a relatively undiscovered part of Cornwall with a beautiful coastline overlooking Plymouth Sound. Quiet beaches, coastal walks with stunning views, Mount Edgcumbe country park and the pretty seaside villages of Kingsand and Cawsand all provide the destination for a lovely day out. There are plenty of cafes and pubs providing good food in the area.