HEATHER CHARNLEY HEATHER CHARNLEY 4 QUEENS CLOSE, ACOMB, HEXHAM, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE46 4NJ
TEL: (01434) 602125. MOBILE: (07880) 945239
www.heathersvisionarygallery.co.uk
Email: heather_m_charnley@hotmail.com
Description of my Work Philosophy
My work is generally based on meditations and dreams, and is my personal method of exploration into the nature of other realms through sensing and portraying the visual forms and energies in various places and states of being.
My themes are based on nature in its various aspects, such as cloudscapes, inspiring mountains, aspects of water, as well as sacred sites, stone circles and the planets of our solar system. I have also done many sacred sites and wells, homeopathic remedy images, and crystals.
My interest and concern is that the paintings are of a healing and inspiring nature, for I have always been just as interested in healing as I have in art. I would like to think that I am focusing harmony and healing through the paintings as an offering of service and pleasure to others. When I go to a sacred site I can see and feel the energy present like a shining presence coming through me, and I can also pick up this quality from a site through a photograph too.
Visionary painting for me is part of a soul searching, universal searching into realms of discovery within the portals of God's creation, echoing the energies seen in meditation or visions. For on the physical level energies do not seem a reality for all is slow and little vibrancy is apparent. However, on other levels everything sparkles and vibrates like bright sunlight on water, or transforming fluid patterns, for all is in motion, singing and dancing, and that the universe dances like the Song Celestial.
Work that I do
I do paintings, greeting cards, posters and mounted prints. I also do murals and painted furniture. 2006 saw the publishing of "Sacred Sites and Places of Power" a meditative handbook on ancient sites containing clairvoyant images of 40 sites, with meditations and Neolithic history. Book two of the series is on its way to being published and is based in Northumberland. It is called "Amaleina's Journey", about an apprentice to a wise woman who travels around many ancient sites throughout the county. My latest book "Seeds of Amaranth" is a story about Atlantis. A mysterious casket is found by two woman on a beach and the crystals within it hold memories of the fabled continent. I am starting the second Atlantis book.
Qualifications and Exhibitions
I studied furniture design at Newcastle Polytechnic and obtained a BA Hons degree in Industrial Design Furniture in 1975.
I have worked as a textile design assistant in London and as a potter for about five years around the country. I have done other work such as office jobs and care assistant work, and studied various complementary therapies.
In recent years I have done various computer courses, including – desktop publishing using PageMaker up to stage 3, digital imaging level 2, a diploma in networking and web design (level 2), and a course in Internet Technologies level 1. Also done basic counselling and a diploma in creative writing, and a course in crystal healing - I have strongly connected healing & art for a while.
I have exhibited with the Free Painters and Sculptors, London in 1980, and at Wetheriggs Pottery, Penrith in 1986. I have shown work at the Lakeland Guild Galleries in Keswick and Coniston, with Gossipgate Garden and Gaslight Galleries in Carlisle and Alston, and the Theatre in the Forest all in 1987.
I have exhibited at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, and Coquetdale Gallery, Rothbury in 1988.
Down in Bath I exhibited in Huckleberry's Restaurant, and various shops and galleries in Glastonbury in 1990-91, then at Lancaster Museum Gallery in 1991.
Then, when I moved north I exhibited at the Forum 28, Barrow in Furness in 1994; Llangefni Library Gallery on Anglesey in 1995; the Complementary Health Centre, the Gill, Ulverston; and the Manjushri Institute near Ulverston in 1998. I also did several murals for Furness General Hospital.
I then exhibited at the Tolbooth Arts Centre, Kirkcudbright in Scotland in 1999; and exhibited with the Artesian visionary arts group in Edinburgh in 2001, and then again in spring 2003.
I have been in the Aurora Project, which is based in Morpeth and have exhibited with them every year. They had an exhibition at The Art Works in 2004, in Newcastle to celebrate their new website launch. In 2005 I exhibited at the Arena in the spring and at Cornucopia Gallery, Hexham during the summer months. Also in Almonds & Raisins, the Supernatural Cafe in Princess Square, Newcastle upon Tyne in Autumn 2005 to 2007. I have exhibited some of my work with Minerva Screen Printers at Newcastle City Library on occasions and also recently, an exhibition of digital imagery at Wallington in the Clock Tower Restaurant, September to October 2008. I have some of my art work at Precious Cargo, a gift shop in Brampton, Cumbria.