MY STORY & PHILOSOPHY

My name is Claire Carroll and I run Cottage Art & Design, an artist-led studio based in the Elham Valley in Kent. My work comes from a long-standing need to live closely with nature and to bring it into our homes and everyday lives through creative work.

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I didn’t arrive here in a straight line. Over time, making became a way of slowing down, paying attention and working in step with the natural world rather than against it. Drawing, pattern and surface design allow me to observe the landscape closely and translate those observations into artwork, interior pieces and surface pattern designs that can be lived with over time.

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Seasonality and sustainability are central to how I work. Living and working in the Elham Valley means being closely attuned to the rhythms of the year — what is growing, changing or lying dormant — and I’m drawn to processes that are thoughtful, low-impact and made to last. I’m interested in creating work that feels considered and enduring, rather than fast or disposable.

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Alongside studio work, learning through making is an important part of what I do. I run hands-on workshops and develop creative projects for adults and schools, using observation, drawing and practical making as ways of exploring materials, ideas and the natural world. These sessions are designed to encourage curiosity and confidence, while still working towards clear, meaningful outcomes.

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At the heart of Cottage Art & Design is a simple belief: that creative work can help us live more attentively, bring nature into our homes, and reconnect us with slower, more seasonal ways of working and learning. Whether through a piece of artwork, a pattern used in an interior, or a shared creative experience, my aim is to create work that feels grounded, honest and closely connected to the natural world around us.