Susan Carlyle studied Fine Art (painting) at Liverpool School of Art after completing a foundation course at Wallasey. After a stint or two in Liverpool secondary schools she changed direction by joining theatre and community arts groups in Sheffield (Theatre Vanguard) and London (InterAction), working in prop making, wardrobe and stage management. Also driving dilapidated vans to tour venues in education or for street theatre. The alternative lunchtime theatre scene then took off in Soho providing another exciting experience at the Almost Free Theatre.

From early 1970s Susan moved to East London, returned to teaching in special educational needs, followed by employment with various community based projects as a welfare rights adviser.

This path led to full time campaigning as an elected local authority councillor in Tower Hamlets. Artwork was confined to occasional holiday sketching and supporting other artists through funding commissions such as Altab Ali arch in St Mary’s gardens opposite Whitechapel Art Gallery. Through same period Susan was employed in community development and health education posts before moving to Cambridge, to pursue painting again. Her first exhibition in 1999 took place at Greshams.

Looking at fences - a reflection on a particular landscape cut by barriers and security posts has been a continuing theme of Susan’s work with a combination of line, drawing directly on to the plate or page and blocking with stencils or collage. The observations were made at a time when Susan worked within the immigration detention setting ‘looking out’ at landscape through fences. There are studies derived from the abandoned landscape of fences and barricades.

Current work

Based on observational study with still life using a variety of media - drawing with paint, graphite, mixed media and print  - some landscape themes, but with mainly a studio setting. Now using traditional printmaking - collograph or monoprint, and combining with collage.  Exploration of different media has developed into abstraction and playing with line and shape, but retaining some faithfulness to the subject.   

Winter studies – from journeys across Cambridgeshire.  Small works inspired or painted on site from locations such as orchards in Franconia /Bavaria and the Belgian Ardennes    

Exhibitions

Cambridge Open Studios scheme since 2000.

Business Development Centre (Spitalfields) London 2000 and 2003,

Ely (Fire Engine House) 2001,

St Barnabas Press and Michaelhouse (group show) March 2007/08

Various café venues. (Café Adriatic. Portal Gallery Ely)

All paintings and prints on display are for sale

Works are in a mixed media of paint and prints on paper, accompanied by drawing and preparatory studies.