Debut solo exhibition of theatrical portraits by Clare Williams.

The portraits in this collection reflect 40 years of working in the theatre - a world of artifice where the donning of a costume and the painting of a face allows for a new story to be told.

The artist is intrigued by how the skin is in a constant state of change- morphing, sweating, puckering, wrinkling and smudging. She is fascinated by how a disguise can melt away to disclose the face behind the mask. But who is more real- the painted or the unpainted face?

She works very quickly and instinctively onto wooden panels without preliminary sketches. She ‘becomes’ the character she creates. She then goes through a long process of reducing, rebuilding, eradicating, and reconstructing. Sometimes the characters are invented, sometimes she uses models. Occasionally she paints the sitter's skin prior to the portrait being made. The process allows her to understand the nature of the mask worn by the subject.

‘The painting process is like a theatre rehearsal. Characters only emerge after weeks of struggle, gestation, repetition, accidental insight and wrong turns. At the end of the process the actor takes the stage having conjured up a new creation.’

You can follow artist Clare Williams on Instagram.

The exhibition will take place in our Visitors' Book Café Bar from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November during our normal opening times.

Paintings will be available for sale at the café/bar counter.

BUYING WORKS

PURCHASE

All paintings are available to purchase directly from Woolwich Works.

Prices range from £95 to £995

Our café staff will take payments in full at the time of purchase through either debit card or credit card.

Note that we are a cashless venue and only accept card payments.

If you are collecting a large painting or having one delivered then you will need to provide our staff with your name, email address and telephone number.

COLLECTION

Smaller paintings (15cm x 15cm) and (25cm x 25cm) may be collected by the buyer at point of sale.

Larger paintings (60cm x 60cm) can be collected from the café on Sunday 1 November or Monday 2 November during our normal opening hours.

Buyers from further afield (i.e. beyond London) may collect the painting at point of sale, subject to agreement.

DELIVERY

Postal delivery to an address in the UK will incur an additional levy of £25 for P&P payable directly to the artist.

Contact the artist at cauldronsandfurnaces@me.com to arrange shipping. Unfortunately shipping is not available in the EU or beyond.