She lived for a time in Monaco where she exhibited in Monte Carlo and has also sold her work in Switzerland, often donating the proceeds to local charities.
“My late husband was a tremendous veteran tennis player who played all over the world and we used to go to a tournament in Austria in May,” she explains.
It was here she met well-known Austrian artist Wilhelm Loisel who taught her about painting in watercolour.
“He was in his late eighties by this time and I used to work in his garden and paint with him.”
He was also known to have taught Adolf Hitler to paint, she says.
Sally Gaddam who runs the cellar door at Matawhero started the art gallery last November and put on an exhibition of her own work.
“Kirsten Serle has been so generous in allowing this to happen and it’s fantastic to have another space for local artists to hang their work,” Sally says.
“She doesn’t charge the artist a commission which makes it very attractive.”
Sally approached Claire about exhibiting a selection of her work after being contacted by Claire’s grandson Richard Clark.
This time the proceeds will go to Hospice Tairāwhiti and Claire said she was delighted to have already sold two paintings.
“I’m absolutely blown away by what Sally has done. She has hung it most beautifully.”
Chief executive of Hospice Tairāwhiti Barbara Grout says; “Claire has been a keen supporter of Hospice for a number of years and it’s support like Claire’s that makes a difference to the palliative care services we provide to our community.”
Claire is a member of the Gisborne Artists’ Society and has had work in their annual exhibitions held at Tairāwhiti Museum.
For someone who dropped out of art school aged 17, thinking she wasn’t good enough, Claire has shown that it’s never to late to pick up your passion. She has been painting for 45 years and will continue to do so.
She carries a sketch pad in her bag and will draw when she feels inspired or sees something that takes her interest.
“Drawing is the basis of painting. If you can’t draw, you can’t paint,” she said.
“I get days when I’m full of energy and that’s when I paint.”
The artworks in this exhibition include a variety of flowers from pink peonies to white hydrangeas and show off Claire’s ability with composition and working in watercolour.
The exhibition runs until February 25.
