Carys Ross

About

South Wales based painter

Statement

Carys’ work seeks to capture the rhythm of lived experience through colour, gesture, and material. She considers herself part of the pandemic generation, with a practice rooted in painterly abstraction since 2019. Drawn to the expressive possibilities of colour, texture, and mark-making, her work explores the tactile and emotional connections between painting and ceramics as a global language, one that extends far beyond Great Britain’s borders and reflects the rich diversity of cultural textures around the world. At the core of her practice is a fascination with the handmade mark, a process that, for her, embodies a sense of humanity and authenticity within painting, guided by emotional intuition and the physical engagement of working with materials. She is fascinated by the interplay between exterior and interior spaces, observing how texture, light, and natural forms echo within her intimate environments. Through layering, adding and subtracting, she develops surfaces that appear simple but hold a complexity through intention. Influenced by the shifting balance between control and spontaneity, Carys explores how colour and surface can evoke emotion. I investigate the tactile and sensory qualities of materials through intuitive, painterly abstraction. Exploring layering, texture, and the relationship between paint, clay, and paper. Guided by gesture and instinct, I allow a quiet inner awareness and sense of spirituality to shape the way I respond to the world around me. Nature and interior space exist in close dialogue within my work. I am drawn to the ways landscapes, light, and organic forms echo through the intimate environments I inhabit, revealing subtle connections between external and internal worlds. Through processes of layering, erasure, addition, and subtraction, I build surfaces that may initially appear minimal or restrained, yet hold a deeper complexity shaped by memory, intention, and touch. My practice is rooted in material exploration and sensitivity, embracing imperfection, texture, and the physical presence of each medium. Through this process, I seek to create quiet, contemplative works that invite a slower engagement with space, sensation, and emotional resonance.

Education

• 2022First class , BA honours Drawing and print, UWE, Bristol

Exhibitions

Recognition