Eleanor Carlingford

Artist’s statement

Eleanor Carlingford was born in Newry, Co. Down and lived in Northern Ireland  until the age of 21 when she moved to Scotland.  She spent her youth in the small fishing village of Kilkeel where traditions of the sea permeated most aspects of life.  

Eleanor is a qualified yachtsmaster.  She also pursued a varied career from translating to journalism and broadcasting, relationship counselling and theatrical costume manufacture before turning, in her forties, to painting.  She decided then to pursue the honours degree course in fine art painting at The Glasgow School of Art and graduated in June 2005.

Her paintings are enigmatic, sometimes humorous - freighted with ghosts and memories. The figures come and go, often in nautical settings, stuffed with the jumbled paraphernalia ubiquitous on every quay. The air is thick, choices are limited but a celtic lyricism imbues the atmospheres with something softer.  A questioning is ongoing about the person as a product of a so-called “up-bringing”.   Eleanor believes that for the most part people become a version of what they have learned that they are  “I believe that true identity emerges gradually. It takes dedication to hear that inner voice.” 

Eleanor has three grown-up children and lives in Scotland.