‘I loved the song which Nature sung’ - London’s Epping Forest by Alison Chaplin

Alison Chaplin is interested in capturing the fleeting shadows that play on the foliage and pattern the forest floor. The diversity of colours in the forest is constantly altering, and results in a variety of moods that poets capture in words and artists capture in paint.

The poet John Clare lived in Epping Forest from 1837 until 1841 and wrote many poems during his stay. Chaplin finds that she relates to the immersive quality of these works. We experience the forest directly through his eyes and Alison has the same ambition with her portrayal of the forest. The link between John Clare’s poetry and Chaplin's paintings is celebrated by her use of short quotes to title her works.

Chaplin's work is in private collections in USA, Australia and Britain.