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CHARLOTTE
GROWCUTT
Firstly, introduce yourself and tell us what you do.
I’m Charlotte Grocutt, I’m an artist-cum-designer.
You have a very distinct, cheeky, British style to your work. Tell us a bit about what inspires you and the work that you create.
I like to make people laugh and have a certain shock factor all while making it relatable or familiar. I use observations of life around me, growing up in rural England definitely inspired me in ways I didn’t realise at the time, archaic and bizarre. I’m an avid collector of vintage print, magazines and books which heavily influence the aesthetics of my work.
Tell us about a piece you’ve created that stands out to you. Divorce Dinners (2019) is a series of four prints, a mockery of a 70s recipe book pages offering recipes to cook when you need to announce a divorce or infidelity to you children. I made this piece when I was studying at Chelsea, it was the first piece of work that I made while there that felt authentically me. It meant something to me and I was showing people my humour through exploring something incredibly personal. It’s also a perfect culmination of my references, experiences and humour coming together. I found the piece bought about a lot of conversations with other people who had a similar experience.
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Are you a creative full-time? If not tell us what you do alongside this and how you find managing your time between art and designs and your other occupation(s)?
I am, so to speak, I work for a design studio as a creative artworker, I assist on projects from visualisation to prepping files for print, very technical. I studied fine art so when I joined the studio my technical ability was not great, but I’ve been there almost two years and have learnt so much. Although I’m working in a creative environment full time it doesn’t leave much time for personal projects and work.
The past year I’ve really learnt to give myself a break, there’s pressure when you leave university to be doing so much, comparing yourself to your peers but everyone has their own problems and difficulties however it may look from the outside. Just because you’re not in your own studio making your own work all day doesn’t make you any less of an artist, designer or creative.
How would you describe your journey as a creative thus far? What are the most
fulfilling/challenging aspects about what you do?
My journey to this point on paper has been very straightforward. A-levels, art foundation and art degree. It’s post degree that I’ve struggled with the most, not knowing what I want to do, not knowing how to define myself as a creative, whether that be designer or artist. The consistent struggle throughout everything for me is confidence and self-belief, I’m sure many people would agree or relate to that. I find it’s the single thing that holds me back from even putting pen to paper. When you’re studying at any level there’s a clear end goal and deadlines to work to which forces you, confident or not, to get the work done. Now I don’t have that, unless working on a commission, the doubt holds me back or stops me from making things. I’m trying to overcome this and have started making work just for myself, top secret stuff…
What piece of information or advice do you wish you had known sooner?
The time after studying will be uncomfortable, you’ll learn more about yourself and your work during this time than you will at university. Try not to compare yourself to your peers, success looks different for everyone. You’re not supposed to be a fully formed artist, designer or creative in your 20s.
What are you currently working on?
Lots of little bits, learning new skills, a little book.
It’s almost scarf season for me, working on new designs and actually creating more of a creative launch for them this year.
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