Mary gained her BA in Fine Art in the late 1960s at the Art Department of the University of Newcastle, sharing a studio with the now world-famous painter, Sean Scully. Mary’s work is joyful, happy, exuberant and colourful semi-abstract expressionism, containing themes of birds and moons, rich foliage, patterns and images from life experiences, emotions, music, and love.

Having travelled and lived in Portugal, Alabama, Alaska, Curacao, New York and finally settling in Sao Paulo, Brazil for nine years, she then returned to Chichester. Mary gained a wealth of experience and inspiration for her art from visiting, living and working in these places, but it was Brazil with its vibrancy, colour, music and art and especially the Primitive paintings and artifacts that inspired her use of vibrant primary colours, exciting patterns and repeating themes of jungles and animals. Her love of the Fauve painter Andre Derain, the painter of animal and jungle scenes, Henri Rousseau, Brazilian Naïve art in the Museu Internacional de Arte Naïf do Brasil  (MIAN) in Rio and graffiti and street art are all influences in her work.

Find out more here: https://www.oxmarket.org/exhibitions/mary-carless-all-things-bright