Claire Baxter Fine Art began in 2008...
I am a Yorkshire oil painter and incredibly proud of my home county. Working in oil, I paint Yorkshire towns and landscapes in a quirky, fun and colourful style. I want to tell stories in a ‘snap shot’ where the characters represent us, people we know, our family, friends and true Yorkshire grit! This is why you never see their faces – they are for you to recognise. The story is yours! With evocative titles, they spark memories, emotions and humour.
I begin each piece by working from a collection of photographs taken across Yorkshire. From these, I sketch out the sections I want to include, shape the narrative, and develop the characters. The characters themselves are drawn from imagination, then brought into Photoshop, where I experiment with composition—moving elements freely without the constraints of erasing. Once the composition is resolved, I return to drawing and move into the painting stage, using oils to build rich layers and fine detail.
I started selling my work in a local park in Harrogate in 2008, displaying it on railings and benches while balancing a teaching career and raising very young children. After leaving teaching in 2014, and through persistence and dedication, I opened my first gallery in 2019.
The Claire Baxter Gallery, located in the heart of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, showcases not only my work but also that of other local artists. Today, my paintings are collected both nationally and internationally, and I hope they bring enjoyment to many.
Accolades
I have been recognised for both artistic excellence and business achievement, and have been fortunate enough to be part of exciting projects and awards across Yorkshire and the UK, including:
- Finalist for Woman Who Solopreneur Awards (2025)
- Official Artist for Yorkshire Day (2025)
- Official Artist for the Great Knaresborough Bed Race (2024)
- Winner of Best Rural Business, Harrogate Business Awards (2023)
- Winner of Favourite New Business, Knaresborough Business Awards (2023)
- Finalist for Best Retail Business and Best Independent Business, Harrogate Business Awards (2023–2025)
- Finalist for UK’s Most Popular Published Artist, Fine Art Trade Guild (2022)
- Official Artist for Tour de Yorkshire (2020)