My work is primarily still life based, although I am also very interested in architecture and environment. My still lives focus on flowers, and often include wooden animals, toys or memorabilia from abroad. Sometimes I use flowers in a symbolic way, against lit up windows, and in these, gouache is used to create a matt dark background. In these I am influenced by the work of Edward Hopper and his night windows.

In most of my paintings I overlay layers of watercolour to create a strong tonal effect, rather than using watercolour washes. In my architectural paintings I work in pen first. I also occasionally do life studies from my cats as they sleep, and in these, enjoy working in a delicate way with mixed media.

I try to achieve a clarity and ‘sparkle’ in my still lives, by using high contrast tone and negative shapes. In the next few years I hope to develop these aspects and continue to combine my love of flowers with city night scenes.

Carol Binnie was born and brought up in the Scottish Borders. After gaining an M.A. Honours in Fine Art from Edinburgh University / Edinburgh College of Art in 1985, she began a career in teaching.

She has taught in Forres and Stirling, and is presently Principal Teacher of Art and Design at the Royal High School of Edinburgh.

She has exhibited in the Scottish Borders, Morayshire, the Lake District, the Campsie Fells and Edinburgh, and has frequently exhibited with her father, Andrew Binnie, whose work can be found at www.andrewbinnie.co.uk. She has undertaken commissions in graphic design, architectural painting and still life.

EXHIBITIONS