Artist Caitlin Walton tells us about taking comfort in the odd

Comforted by the odd elements of life, Ashford artist Caitlin Walton likes to add the unsettling vibe in an otherwise calm environment. Her handle @worminthewhiskey speaks exactly to that: offering something unexpected to her work.

There are many layers to Caitlin’s work, as she explains: “I struggle with body image and use painting as a way to combat that. I do this by using my body as reference for all the figures in my work. This allows me to see myself in a different light as momentarily I am no longer concerned with how other people see me - I’m just interpreting my own self.”

Changing features such as gender, skin tone, weight and muscle, Caitlin looks to include “lots of different beautiful bodies” in the work while still getting a sense of putting her own physical form into each piece.

Catlin’s journey into acrylic on canvas was started when she was asked to visit a resident at St. John Care home in Tankerton - something she did for two years - to work with a former art teacher using creative sessions as therapy. We got in touch to find out a bit more.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO ART IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Ever since I was little I wanted to be an artist, but I didn’t try to pursue this dream until 2014, when I began my pre-degree in art & design at UCA Canterbury. I started this course because I had to stay in education until I was 18 years old. My portfolio was small and the lecturers were considering rejecting me, but I begged them not to make me go back to sixth-form!

I agreed to attend some classes over the summer and was eventually accepted.

Going to UCA was one of the best decisions I ever made, not only because I got to use all the amazing facilities but because I was finally out of that awkward schoolgirl stage and allowed to grow in a creative environment with like-minded people. I studied lens-based media, focusing on film and animation. I didn’t actually start painting until I was in my 20s, so I still consider myself self-taught.

TELL US ABOUT WHEN YOU STARTED PAINTING

I started painting more often when I began visiting a resident at St. John Care home in Tankerton. This was to help her achieve her goals with her own personal art. She really benefited from these sessions as she suffered from brain damage and was a former art teacher. Her favourite medium was acrylic on canvas, so that’s what we used and I still use it to this day.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVEN’T SEEN IT?

Vibrant, strange, lowbrow paintings of naked people in various environments.

COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO US THE IDEA OF TAKING COMFORT IN THE ODD ELEMENTS OF LIFE?

Rather than pretending everything is normal, I much prefer embracing our weird and wonderful world for what it truly is, warts and all!

A LOT OF YOUR WORK CENTRES ON BODY IMAGE - HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THIS?

I started using myself as reference to improve my skill while drawing figures and continued because it gave me such a confidence boost. I got to see my body in a totally different way than I usually would.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE PIECE OF YOUR OWN WORK?

My favourite has to be Tesco Value Whiskey - I think that’s a piece I have really thrown myself into.

WHAT IS YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT SO FAR AS AN ARTIST?

Having my work exhibited at Liberation Art Gallery in Brighton. The gallery is dedicated to promoting good mental health and well-being through a creative outlet. The director of the gallery has worked as an art therapist for 13 years and understands the therapeutic value of communicating thoughts and feelings through a creative medium. I’m thrilled to be a part of such an amazing project.

ARE YOUR PIECES CREATED TO BE BOUGHT? OR DO YOU KEEP THEM ALL?

Most of my work is eventually sold, but I do hang on to some pieces. I didn’t like the idea of parting ways with my work at first, but over time I enjoyed the thought of my work hanging in someone’s home. I also take commissions and I really enjoy making art for others.