Claire Botman

I am a maker across many creative pursuits. In my painting practice I explore still life, daily life, and the natural world that surrounds me on the south coast of Western Australia. I try to work with a sense of curious openness, seeking a voice that feels authentic while remaining free to experiment. I enjoy working loosely and allowing each piece to suggest its own best way of coming into being.

Rooted in the local landscape, I notice beauty in the everyday — the play of light on fruit, the rustle of breeze through the trees, and the birds living their own intricate lives in what feels to me like an alternate universe. Painting gives me a way to translate those small encounters into something tangible, to slow down and really look. I hope my work offers that same sense of pause and appreciation to others.

Art has always been part of my life. My mum was active in the Armadale art scene for many years, and I carry her influence in my love of making. After a long career in IT, returning to hands-on creative work feels like coming home. My involvement with Riverfront Gallery has given me a sense of belonging and encouraged me to keep exploring and exhibiting.

Whether in oil, acrylic, collage or drawing, I’m motivated by curiosity, the delight of seeing ordinary subjects anew, and the hope that others might feel a spark of that delight too.