My practice explores abandoned landscapes as sites where memory, time, and transformation converge. These overlooked places, marked by human presence and absence, embody a fragile dialogue between past and present. I am drawn to their haunting beauty and the quiet stories they hold.
Working across photography, video, and printmaking, I use layering, texture, and light to mirror the way memory itself is constructed: fragmented, shifting, incomplete. The process becomes both documentation and interpretation, echoing the atmosphere of decay and renewal.
Inspiration arises from direct encounters with these landscapes — their silences, overlooked details, and traces left behind. Through my work, I aim to translate these spaces into reflections on impermanence, resilience, and our shared relationship with place and time.
Caryl Beach MA
Themes of memory, loss, and resilience run through the work. Abandoned places are not simply ruins to me; they are resonant spaces, holding untold stories that invite reflection on how human activity imprints itself on the environment. They also speak to wider concerns — the fragility of our relationship with the natural world, the urgency of climate change, and the inevitability of change within our own lives. By lingering in these spaces, I seek to reveal both their haunting stillness and their quiet beauty.
Inspiration comes from direct encounters with these landscapes. I am drawn to their textures, their silences, and their overlooked details: peeling paint, broken windows, fragments of objects left behind. These small traces become metaphors for memory itself — fragmented, layered, and often incomplete. Literature, history, and personal experience also inform the work, but it is the act of being present in these spaces, noticing what remains and what has been lost, that fuels my creative response.
Ultimately, my practice is an attempt to hold space for memory and time within material form. By translating the spirit of abandoned landscapes into visual works, I hope to invite viewers to consider their own relationship with place, loss, and renewal.
Caryl graduated from University of Hertfordshire in 2009
attaining an MA in Fine Art
Awarded best video prize by Elstree Heritage in 2012 during
Eastern Approaches Open Exhibition.
A former fellow of Digswell Arts.
Currently a Print Group Member of Digswell Arts.
A former member of Memento Collective.
An Associate Artist at Courtyard Arts Hertford.
Exhibited in Prague and London,
Selected for Derwent Art Prize
Exhibiting at the gallery Oxo Tower and Paris
later this year- now postponed.
Caryl works from her studio overlooking the Mill Stream
at Dicker Mill Hertford.
Caryl's current focus is time lapse video, photography, drawing
and print making exploring the concept
of time and memory.
'time : the indefinite continued progress of existence and
events in the past, present and future regarded as a whole'
This is a continuing investigation.
I’m fascinated by the concept of time and memory. My recent investigations involve post memory. Thinking about childhood memories and encounters, how much is remembered, as opposed to recounted memories or images?
‘post memory is a powerful form of memory because it’s connection to it’s object or source is mediated not through recollection but through representation, projection and creation, often based on silence rather than speech, on invisible rather than visible’
Marianne Hirsche
CURRENT PROJECTS:
Work in Progress – Photo Polymer Plate Image – Playing with ideas for:
INK TO IMPRESS
A group Exhibition of a variety of processes by Hertfordshire printmakers to be held at Courtyard Arts Hertford. October 2025.
June – July 2025.
My mono print Abandoned will be exhibited at The Broadway Gallery Letchworth from June 11th 2025.
Recent Exhibitions and Projects:
Time lapse video exhibited at HY B4 Galerie Kampus Hybernská
Prague in January 2020.
Also shown at Hertford House Hotel April 2019
as part of Hertford Arts Trail.
https://vimeo.com/327532555
Stream awarded 'Best Video' at Eastern Approaches 2012
by Elstree Heritage.https://youtu.be/lrY-p2MNjgs
Biography
MA Fine and Applied Art (Commendation)
2009 University of Hertfordshire England U.K.
BA (Hons) Fine Art
2005 University of Hertfordshire England U.K.
Access Art & Design
2000-2001 Oaklands College Welwyn Garden City Herts England
Art Foundation
1968-1969 Walthamstow School of Art, Walthamstow East London England.
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2020 April LOMO Bar. Hertford. As art of Hertford Art Trail. CANCELLED
2019 September Solo Exhibition and Installation event at
The Mill House Hertford as part of Open Studios.
2019 April 8th - May 6th Hertford House Hotel -
Hertford Arts Trail. Fore Street Hertford.
2018 April - May 6th - Women's Society
in St Andrews St Hertford as part of Hertford Art Trail 2018
2018 April - June 4th - Mixed Media Display of work at
'Wesleys Cafe ' Harpenden Herts
2018 July - Currently exhibiting mixed media work at Bebo Cafe Hertford Herts.
2017 June 6 - July 29th 'Impossible Landscapes' Art Van Go Knebworth.
2016 June - Mixed media works at Bebo Cafe Hertford, as part of Hertford Art Trail.
2016 April 1-30 'The Simple Act of Walking'
Art Van Go Knebworth.
2004 (July) Exhibition Reception and offices of Fresh Creative Services Charlotte Street London WC1
2001 Film Projection/Installation Media Studios Oaklands College Welwyn Garden City Herts England
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 October 28 to November 22nd. INK TO IMPRESS To be held at Courtyard Arts Hertford.
2025 June 21/22nd Digswell Arts Open Studios and Exhibition at The Forge Digswell AL6 0BU
2025 June 11th - July 26th. Letchworth Open Exhibition Broadway Gallery The Arcade Letchworth SG6 3ES
2025 Courtyard Arts Open 2025 Highly Commended mono print April 2025.
2025 Hertford Art Trail Exhibiting at Frankie & Olive Old Cross.
2024 Letchworth Open Exhibition at Broadway Gallery Letchworth
Wednesday, 18 September – Saturday, 9 November 2024
2024 June 21-22 Digswell Arts Open Studios at The Forge Digswell
2024 April 6-20 Hertford Art Trail - The Shop Parliament Square
Hertford.
2023 Aug 12 - October7 2023 -Letchworth Open Exhibition Broadway Gallery Letchworth.
2023 June Print work exhibited at Digswell Arts Open Studio Event at The Forge Digswell Herts
2023 Time Traces & Transformation at Parndon Mill Gallery Harlow with Members of Digswell Arts Artists.
2023 April Open Exhibition Courtyard Arts Hertford. Two mono prints exhibited.
2023 April The Brothership Gallery Hertford. Hertford Art Trail.
2022 September/October Death Dreams & Desires at Safehouse 1 Peckham. Members of Memento Collective. https://www.mementocollective.art/
2020 APRIL 3- MAY 16TH IN OUR GARDEN NEW MAYNARD GALLERY
POSTPONED until DATE TBC
2020 12 – 16 May Derwent Art Prize
at 20 rue Saint Claude in Paris. Postponed until further notice.
2020 22 April to 3 May Derwent Art Prize Gallery@OXO London
Postponed until further notice. Online Virtual Gallery:
https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/505497/the-derwent-art-prize
2020 February 7th - 13th The Old Biscuit Factory Bermondsey. Contemporary Fine Art Exhibition.
2020 January 10-30 th Seen Forms HY B4 Galerie Kampus Hybernská Prague.
2019 December 1st Open Studios at The Forge Digswell AL6 0BU
2019 May 10-11 Digswell Arts Open Studios and Print Exhibition
at The Forge Digswell Hertfordshire AL6 0BU
2019 April 11th Herts Visual Arts Big Showcase
New Maynard Gallery Welwyn Garden City.
2019 April 9th Courtyard Arts Open Exhibition Hertford.
2019 January 23rd to February 23rd Thin Places (Revisited)
at Art Van Go Knebworth
2018 September Courtyard Arts Auction Courtyard Arts Hertford
2018 October 13-20 Thin Places Wynd Gallery Letchworth
2018 September 25th Group Exhibition Wynd Gallery Letchworth
2018 June 25th 2018- Group Exhibition at Wynd Gallery Letchworth.
2018 May 30-June 23 'Time and Tide' with Cathy Smale at Courtyard Arts
2018 June 1-3rd Open Studios at The Forge Digswell Herts AL6 0BU
2018 April - Courtyard Arts Open Exhibition Hertford Herts.
2017 October Hertford Art Society 20th Members Exhibition Cowbridge Hall Hertford.
2017 September 23-24 HVAF Open Studios
at The Forge Digswell AL6 0BU
2017 September 8 Group Exhibition of Co Operative Members
at Wynd Gallery Letchworth
2017 May Open Studios at Digswell Arts Digswell
2016 November 20th Digswell Arts Open Studio Christmas Sale
Digswell AL6 OBU
2016 November Courtyard Arts Members 20th Anniversary Exhibition
at Courtyard Arts Port Vale Hertford Herts.
2016 November Hertford Art Society Members Show Cowbridge Hall Hertford.
2016 May 21-22 Open Studios Event at The Forge Digswell
as part of Digswell Arts
2016 April 8-May 8th Hertford Art Trail my work displayed in Cafe Bebo Hertford.
2015 October 30-November 1 HAS Members Show Hertford.
2015 May 21-June 28th Praesentia group exhibition 'Encounters' Parndon Mill Harlow Essex
2014 October 31st-November 2nd HAS 17th Members Show Mill Bridge Rooms The Wash Hertford Herts.
2014 May 10-11 2014 Print works exhibited as part of Digswell Arts Trust Open Studios Digswell Herts AL6 OBU
2014 April 25th - May 10th 2014.Three of my unique mono prints
to be exhibited as part of Hertford Town Council Art Trail
in Peter & Susan Brown Interiors St Andrews Street Hertford and The Castle Hertford.
2014 March Wallace 100 Framed Mono print exhibited in Palace Green Gallery Stable Yard Hatfield Park AL9 5NQ
2013 November 8-10 HAS Members Show at Millbridge Rooms Hertford Herts
2013 November 10th Praesentia's one day launch of Art Trail for Wallace 100 at Courtyard Arts Centre Port Vale Bengeo Herts
2013 November 7-21 Art Trail for Wallace 100.Various locations in town centre of Hertford.
2013 September Print Exhibition for Open Studios at DAT Digswell Herts AL6 OBU
2013 June New works installed at Palace Green Gallery Stable Yard Hatfield Park AL9 5NQ
2013 May 5th Open Studios at The Forge Digswell Arts Digswell
Welwyn AL6 OBU
2013 (May) Hertford Art Society Open Exhibition at The Cowbridge Halls, Cowbridge, Hertford SG14 1PG
2013 March Palace Green Gallery Stable Yard Hatfield Park AL9 5NQ
2012 December Eastern Approaches St Albans Hertfordshire Open Exhibition. Awarded 1st Prize for Best Video by Elstree Heritage.
2012 (October) Members Show Hertford Art Society Millbridge Rooms Hertford Hertfordshire
2012 (September) Open Studios at The Forge Digswell
as part of The Printmakers Group.
2012 (September) Open Studios Unit 3 Dicker Mill Hertford Herts SG137AE
2012 (May) Hertford Art Society Open Exhibition Cowbridge
Hertford Herts
2012 (March) praesentia at Courtyard Arts Hertford Herts
2011 (December 10- January 4 2012) Hertfordshire Open Exhibition Museum of St Albans Hertfordshire
2011 (December 7-21) Courtyard Arts Members Show Hertford Herts
2011 (November 11-20) praesentia at Caffe Yum Hertford Herts
2011( April-May) Courtyard Arts Open Exhibition at The Castle Hertford
2010 (December) Open Exhibition @ Margaret Harvey Gallery
St Albans
2010 (December) Courtyard Arts Members Show Bengeo Herts
2010 (October) Artists in Residence at Luton Hoo Walled Garden
Luton Hoo Walled garden Artists’ residency present contemporary works inspired by the garden for visitors to view on site. Video, Installation, Mixed media 2D, Mixed Media 3D, Ceramics and Print making. Artists include Joanna Austin, Caryl Beach, Mary Down, Veronica Grassi, Suzanne Page, Nici Ruggiero, Abi Spendlove, Sally Tyrie and Chris Wilmot.
2010 (September) Open Studios at Luton Hoo Walled Garden
Luton Beds
2009 MA Show in Gallery at University of Hertfordshire
2008 Open Studios Unit 15a Dicker Mill Hertford Herts SG13 7AE
2006 Hertfordshire Graphics Gallery Hertford Hertfordshire
2006 (May-August) Art Van Go Knebworth Hertfordshire
2006 (May) Hertford Art Society Open Exhibition
2006 (April) Art Fair Artshed Ware Hertfordshire
2006 (April- October) Ashridge Park Gallery Berkhampstead Hertfordshire
2006 (February) ‘wish you were here’ exhibition Artshed Ware Hertfordshire.
2005 (November) Hertford Art Society Members Show Hertford Hertfordshire.
2005 Passionately Pink Artshed Ware Hertfordshire.
2005 (June) BA Degree Show Hertfordshire University Hatfield Hertfordshire.
2005 (May) Hertford Art Society Hertford Hertfordshire.
2004 (April) Inparallel Group Exhibition Dicker Mill Hertford Hertfordshire.
2002 Year One BA Group Exhibition University of Hertfordshire Hatfield Hertfordshire England.
2001 Access Group Exhibition Oaklands College Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire England.
Awards Prizes Fellowships
2012 Best Video Prize awarded by Elstree Heritage at Eastern Approaches Open Exhibition St Albans Hertfordshire
2025 Highly Commended for Mono print 'Abandoned' at Courtyard Arts Open Exhibition Hertford.
2024 Highly Commended for Mono print at Courtyard Arts Open Exhibition 2024.
2012 Ist Prize awarded for 'Most Innovative and Intriguing Work' at HAS Open Exhibition Hertford Herts. Print on metal of macro image.
2010 Shortlisted for Skywards Future Artists Award https://www.ourfutureartists.com/Shortlisted/Default.aspx
2007 Margaret Harvey Prize for Welwyn and Hatfield.
http://digswellarts.org/caryl-beach/News Event
2014 October 24th Become a Fellow of Digswell Arts at The Forge Digswell Hertfordshire. http://digswellarts.org/caryl-beach/
News Events 2025:
Frankie & Olive Old Cross Hertford - work exhibited as part of Hertford Art Trail April 2025
Open Studios at The Forge Digswell AL60BU June 2025
Open Studios at my studio Unit 15A Dicker Mill Hertford SG137AE as part of HVAF Open Studio Event September 2025
Selected for Derwent Art Prize Exhibition was to be at Oxo Gallery.
Exhibition postponed rescheduled : Date tbc.
'In Our Garden' Group Exhibition of Digswell Artists at New Maynard Gallery WGC to celebrate the WGC100 Thursday April 2nd 2020 Private View @ 8-9.30pm. Now postponed, date of exhibition tbc.
caryl beach Art 
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