Caitlin Heffernan

About

Caitlin is a British artist based in Brighton and London. She has exhibited across the UK and Europe and received an international fellowship at The Arts Institute Prague. She has completed residencies at Pada Studios in Lisbon and Studio 459 in Tomar, Portugal, and been commissioned by Metal Arts, Francis Knight, and Somerset Artworks. 

Caitlin is captivated by “underworlds,” particularly the intricate networks of root systems and rhizomes. Her fascination was sparked by a visit to caves in central Portugal, where she learned that stalactites would cease growing if touched by humans. This experience inspired her to imagine a world governed by non-human forces—one where nature can reset itself amidst the climate crisis. Rooted in the belief that the planet is a sentient, disruptive, and unruly force, Caitlin’s work draws from the natural world to explore the interconnectedness between humans and the non-human. Her paintings blend real and imagined elements to create psychological landscapes that reflect nature’s agency. Her practice explores terrains and zones reflecting the unseen forces that shape our world. 

‘The surface becomes a site for exploration, a continual site for renewal,  becoming and re-generating. Shifting  landscapes intrinsically linked to ourselves. I imagine myself as a root, plant, or bird. Painting becomes an act of resistance, of mutability. I shed my skin, I begin again.’