In the ancient Chinese exercise Qingong, Shake It is a move used to reconnect the human body with the pulse of life. Connotations of the body and sensations of the land around the human form are represented by the central pink spine of the painting interacting with its surroundings.

The initial impetus for this body of work came from drawing during lockdown, when Charlotte became immersed in her surroundings and found a particular interest in the hidden energy that informs all living things. Feeling closely connected to nature herself, she considered the relationship between humans, animals and the land, all of which live according to their own rhythms, side-by-side in continuous flux. Considering the agency of her surrounding landscape, Charlotte’s paintings are focused on the senses and explore the form, colour and texture of both the seen and unseen elements that inform and comprise our surrounding landscapes.

Laying down thin ‘veils’ of colour punctuated by direct marks she creates ‘optical vaults’ through which meaning can be accessed – “the last blast of sun before autumn, hints of animal and flora, landscape and structures as the world of nature merges with life.” She describes her process as ‘live’ painting; a risky technique that forces her to be in the moment with her painting and responsive to changes that occur beyond her control, just as mankind cannot control life through will alone and is always subject to nature.