A World of Colour and Memory

Christabel Forbes is a contemporary colourist whose practice serves as a vibrant bridge between the tangible reality of the physical world and the boundless reaches of human imagination. Born in 1991 in Courbevoie, outside Paris, to parents of mixed French and British heritage, her artistic identity is deeply rooted in a dual sense of place and movement. Her work does not merely depict landscapes; it seeks to uncover otherworldly, imaginative realms by drawing directly from life, memory, and the evocative power of colour. As an artist who explores the dialogue between location and existence, Forbes creates self-contained worlds where shape and hue merge to capture the essence of a space.

The foundation of her technical mastery is built upon a rigorous academic journey through some of Europe's esteemed institutions. After earning her BA in Fine Art from Falmouth University, she refined her observational skills at The Royal Drawing School during the prestigious Drawing Year. Her pursuit of excellence continued with an MA in Fine Art from the City and Guilds of London Art School, completed in 2024. This academic lineage has allowed her to develop a multifaceted approach, integrating traditional drawing and painting with experimental printmaking and even paper-folding techniques. Through these diverse media, she investigates how different viewpoints can reshape our perception of the landscapes we inhabit.

Technique and Artistic Vision

At the heart of Forbes' practice is an unwavering commitment to the use of colour as a primary tool for emotional and spatial exploration. She describes herself as a colourist, using vibrant palettes to evoke the atmosphere of people and places, often working en plein air to capture the dynamic energy of her surroundings. Her process is characterized by a beautiful tension between spontaneity and deliberate structure; while she strives to maintain a level of playfulness in her work, there is an underlying fascination with cartography and the way we navigate through space. This interest in the mapping of experience allows her to transform familiar landscapes into something much more profound and ethereal.

Her artistic evolution is marked by several key elements of her creative process:

• Direct Observation: Drawing from life to ensure that even the most imaginative scenes remain anchored in a sense of reality.
• Mixed Media Exploration: The seamless blending of painting, printmaking, and experimental textures to create depth and dimension.
• Memory and Landscape: Using personal recollections to inform her depictions of terrain, creating a dialogue between what is seen and what is remembered.
• Spontaneity: A dedication to maintaining an instinctive, energetic application of colour that reflects the fleeting nature of light and atmosphere.

Currently based in Berkshire, Forbes continues to expand her artistic horizons through various residencies and teaching experiences across Europe. Her work remains a testament to the power of the artist's gaze to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, inviting viewers to lose themselves in landscapes that are as much about internal feeling as they are about external geography.