About Clae
Clae Eastgate was born in Nottinghamshire, UK in 1968. After leaving Birmingham School of Art and moving to London in the early 90’s Clae continued her studies, moving to life drawing and painting having initially trained in sculpture. Largely self taught in painting, Clae began a career in portraiture around 2013. Initially working almost exclusively to commission, she now concentrates on specific projects collaborating with other artists and institutions.
“Portraiture is a challenging discipline and one that often evokes thoughts of tradition and history rather than contemporary art. The portrait, however, is as popular as ever, using all manner of media, it demands its existence more than ever before.
For each portrait I look for those elements that must balance in harmony, a sometimes elusive proposition. While a desired outcome might be physical resemblance, as the artist I am looking for much more. It is only through the communication between sitter and artist that this can be found. It is the story that generates the painting, not just capturing the physical characteristics but what is being invoked and communicated emotionally. It is the story of these peoples lives that I come to know, collecting each element that will suspend that life in time. “
Clae’s current project, ‘Painting the Comedians’ is a collection of portraits of some 20 contemporary female comedians, comic writers and funny women who have changed the social landscape using their own unique brands of humour. Clae sees it as a legacy project, documenting a time in our social history where women are increasingly heard through writing and performance, bringing fresh insights to contemporary life. Clae sees this body of work as spotlighting the talented women who choose to work in notoriously challenging and traditionally male worlds.
Portraits celebrate individuals and their achievements unlike any other genre of art, conveying social history and commentary. Clae believes it to be an important moment in time to document the voices of these funny, courageous women who, spanning several decades and generations, have cleverly navigated through some of the toughest topics, managing to convey fresh perspectives with great skill to entertain and often inspire hugely diverse audiences.
Clae also teaches A Level and GCSE Art & Design and is regularly invited to tutor on portrait courses including BA Honours in Fine Art courses, masterclass summer schools. She lives and works between Shropshire and London.
Previous events & exhibitions
Art Academy London - Masterclass in Portraiture 2024
Kendal Poetry Festival 2024, in conversation with poet Imtiaz Dharker
Acquired by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery for the permanent collection 2020
Former National Poet of Wales, Gillian Clarke, is the latest portrait from the Painting the Poets collection to be acquired by the National Library of Wales' permanent collection.
As part of the Ledbury Poetry Festival and h.Arts Festival the Painting the Poets collection will be showcased during September & October 2023 in the Poetry House, Ledbury.
The portrait of Jackie Kay 'Red, Red' acquired for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery's permanent collection 2021
'Air and Light' - A Portrait of Carol Ann Duffy and 'Red Red' - a Portrait of Jackie Kay hanging side by side in the permanent Contemporary Portraiture collection at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
I recently took the post as Course Manager at BGA, an international distance - learning school; re-writing and overseeing the Art & Design IGCSE and A Level qualification courses.
As part of the Bishops Castle Arts festival a selection of portraits from the Painting the Poets collection will be exhibited in the Town Hall Gallery. PV 10th February, 6pm. All welcome.
I will be painting the award winning poet, Jane Burn's portrait for the Painting the Poets collection. This portrait will be slightly different, however, as Jane will be painting the background. The journey of this portrait in the making is currently being documented on Facebook.
I'll be showing the Painting the Poets collection at the Kendal Poetry Festival this year. 23rd - 26th June
An honour to be painting the portrait Dame Jane Goodall DBE. Portrait sittings too place in 'lockdown' sessions via zoom.
Group show April 2022 (dates tbc) at The Chelsea Chelsea Arts Club
Tutor at Art Academy London, BA (HONS) in Contemporary Portraiture and the Self Portrait short courses.
Women in Frame in collaboration with Poet in the City as part of Venus Rising at Kings Place 2019. Exhibition & live event.
The Poets
National Portrait Gallery BP Award exhibition 2017
Editorial on the Painting the Poets collection in Studio International magazine
Editorial on Painting the Poets collection in the Kensington and Westminster paper 2020
Editorial on the Painting the Poets collection in Jackson Art
Article on "The Poets" portrait in the Mail on Sunday 2017 for the BP Portrait Award exhbiiton.
Interview on Painting the Poets collection in Sound Art Radio 2020 & 2021
"She's Gone". Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize 2017 Exhibition
"Glass Ceiling" Ruth Borchard Portrait Self Portrait Prize 2015 Exhibition
Mall Galleries exhbition, Art for Youth 2019
"Cunto" A Portrait Of Joelle Taylor, Pride in Art, annual LGBT+ exhibitions at Capital Group 2020
Recreating Archangel Michael by Guido Reni for the film director Katherine Brooks’ new movie 2015
A Portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth ll Commissioned by the Kennel Club 2013
