Claire Baxter Fine Art began in 2008 when I was struggling to secure a teaching post. I had just qualified as a secondary school art teacher but times were tough with the financial recession fully in its grip so I had to think outside of the box. I began painting for family and friends which soon led to me selling my work in the local park, Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, hanging my pieces off railings and on benches with The White Rose Artists. Not overly easy whist being pregnant at the same time. Over time, I managed to get a teaching position in a secondary school outside Castleford and I started to book some fairs such as The Harrogate Flower Show, Living North in York, The Great Yorkshire Show and joined organisations such as Made in Yorkshire and built up relationships with other Yorkshire Galleries and started to create a following and fan base.

In 2019 I opened my Gallery on the High Street in Pateley Bridge in the heart of Nidderdale. achieving huge success selling locally, nationally and overseas. We relocated further up the High Street in 2021, to a more prominent position and despite the difficult retail climate of 2022, we have continued to do well. Claire Baxter Gallery is not only home to my work, but we also sell other fantastic work by local artists such as Sanders and Wallace Glass, also based in Pateley Bridge, needle felt artist, two ceramicists, a fused glass artist and another oil painter.