Claire Brewster, artist

Naomi Jones talks to Claire Brewster, an artist who brings maps to life with three-dimensional flights of fancy.

Can you describe your craft?
Making paper cuts from vintage or out of date maps and atlases. My pieces are very intricate and delicate and I display them in box frames, like entomological specimens; they’re pinned so they become 3-D.

Is it a full time occupation?
No, I work part-time as an office manager at an architectural practice. I’d love to be just doing my art, but having time limitations means you have to be very disciplined and good at managing your time, which is useful for creativity.

ABOVE (left-right): Yellow red bird, cut page from Oxford Advanced Atlas, 2009, 64cm x 54cm, £650; Kingfisher Blue, from an OS map of southern England, 2008, 29cm x 24cm, £250.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
I’m fascinated by nature, particularly in the urban environment: it is so resilient and seems to exist almost in a parallel universe to humans, taking over where we neglect. The freedom and movement that birds and insects have is also deeply enthralling; similarly, I’m a big fan of contemporary dance and often use that as a reference point.

How did you choose this unusual path?
I’m not really sure, it wasn’t a conscious decision. I started about eight years ago and things blossomed from there.

Have you always had a fertile imagination?
Yes, I can’t remember a time when I haven’t done something creative: making things, painting, drawing, and creating scrapbooks and collages. For me, art is a vocation: without it, life is stressful; in my studio, I feel good again.

Did you have any formal training?
Yes, I studied Constructed Textiles at Middlesex University.

ABOVE (left-right): The intricacy of Claire’s work makes a magnifying glass invaluable; The invasion has begun, cut page from Times Atlas, 2009, 69cm x 59cm, £2,500.

Which creations are you most proud of?
My installations: Oh the Birds and False Principles. I really enjoy the chance to make bigger, more challenging pieces. It’s always wise to expand your practice so I take any opportunity that involves doing something a little scary.

When you want to take your mind off work, what do you do?
Regular exercise is very important, as is going to the cinema; I like to travel a lot, too, although I’m always on the look out for maps and other inspiration.

Who do you most admire in the arts and crafts world?
Paper artist Su Blackwell who creates book sculptures; Joseph Cornell, who had a passion for collecting and displaying found objects; and artist and sculptor Louise Bourgeois, whose career spanned over 70 of her 98 years.

What advice would you give those who yearn to be more creative?
I can’t imagine not doing something artistic, life would be pretty sad without it. So if you have the urge, just do it. Try lots of short courses to get your creative juices flowing and to find where your passion lies. Don’t be too judgemental of your early efforts – most artists and designers spend years perfecting their art. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – sometimes the best things happen that way.

For more information on Claire’s work and to buy it, visit clairebrewster.co.uk.

WORDS NAOMI JONES PHOTOGRAPHS MARTIN EVENING, PAUL MINYO
Featured in the April 2011 issue of Period Living