About Caroline Matthews

Let me tell you something about me. I’m a full-time practising artist inspired by the beauty and atmosphere of the natural world, particularly woodlands.

“Something happens to the way I see when I’m in a woodland. I see things differently: shapes, colours, light. It is where I’m at my happiest, clear to think and feel. That’s what it’s like when I’m making my work; there’s a focus and purpose, and also a sense of great connection. Sometimes the work pours out and I can lose all sense of time.”

I paint and draw woods in my local area, including Trent Park, Epping Forest and Gobions Wood. I love immersing myself in these landscapes, observing the changing light, richness of colour and intricate patterns and textures.

My paintings, drawings and prints go beyond representing trees. They capture a moment in time: an exploration of light, texture and mark-making, and a response to the feelings a place evokes in me. I hope my work offers a sense of calm and connection with nature, inviting people to pause and feel cocooned by the natural world.

My love of woodlands extends beyond my art, and I’m a member of both the Woodland Trust and the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

I’m a member of Studio Fridays, an artist group based in North London. Before becoming a full-time artist, I worked as a teacher for 32 years, a career that nurtured my curiosity, observation and love of discovering something new.

In 2025, I was delighted to be elected an Associate Member of the Society of Graphic Fine Art, reflecting my commitment to drawing.

Since 2024, my work has been selected for exhibitions at the Mall Galleries in London, including those of the Pastel Society, the Society of Graphic Fine Art, the ING Discerning Eye and the Royal Society of British Artists. In 2026, I was thrilled to receive the Frank Herring Award at the Pastel Society Annual Exhibition.

I continue to explore the woodland landscape through my work, celebrating the beauty, complexity and quiet wonder of trees.