painting Charleston with Lottie Cole

Lottie Cole's Charleston Drawing Room, Gouache, 20 x 30 cms

It has been nearly a century since the Bloomsbury group caught the attention of their fellow countryman-shocking them, dismaying them and creating something uniquely modern from a generation born in the Victorian era . This coterie is amongst a long list of British influences that shadow the work stylists, interior designers, writers-and painters today.

When thinking BLOOMSBURY we conjure the free spirited thinkers that wandered about the countryside near Vanessa Bell's Charleston-and padded about on the cool worn floors of the always creatively inhabited farmhouse at Charleston. Painters- painting on canvas and walls-decorating as it were, but creating something far beyond a pleasing room. They covered every imaginable surface-leaving their mark, swirls, flowers, and pattern on carpets, pillows, curtains, tables, chairs-everywhere one turned there was inspiration underfoot.
Visitors to Charleston included Leonard and Virginia Woolf, Lytton Strachey; economist John Maynard Keynes; artists, Roger Fry, and Dora Carrington; along with other notables in their orbit including E.M. Forster, D.H. Lawrence, Bertrand Russell, Ottoline Morrell and Wyndham Lewis.

 the artist Lottie Cole at Charleston amongst her inspiration

In the spirit of that collaborative endeavor to create beauty, enter the soft spoken and kindred spirit to that illustrious list of artists and writers inspired by the magical world of Charleston. Come along with Lottie-and her marvelous paintings that embrace the spirit of Charleston-but are distinctly her own.



Lottie Cole is interviewed in her studio and at Charleston by Cathy Sayers about her work and the inspirations for her Bloomsbury interiors. 

"I am very busy inside the house, putting up curtains,etc...I have just been getting a bright reddish orange stuff for curtains for the sitting room, to be lined and bordered in mauve."Vanessa Bell on her decoration of Charleston

Vanessa Bell's Self Portrait, and below in Lottie Cole's painting

Lottie Cole's Charleston Drawing Room, Oil on canvas, 150 x 120 cms

Lottie Cole's Charleston Drawing Room, Oil on canvas, 120 x 150 cms

photograph of the Studio at Charleston

Charleston - view from bedroom through to studio, Oil on canvas, 120 x 150 cm

Charleston Studio - Ewer, Easel & Mirror, Oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cms

photograph of the Library at Charleston

Charleston Library, Oil on canvas, 150 x 120 cms

Charleston - chair and Gordon's Gin Bottle, Oil on canvas, 100 x 100 cms

Lottie's portfolio is here
read the spirited interview of several years back with Lisa Borgnes Giramonti about Bloomsbury and Charleston here



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