Claire Russell (RMS, MPSGS, MASF, HS, BA Hons) is an internationally award-winning Verre Églomisé artist who lives and works in Gloucestershire, England. Raised in a creative household, she inherited artistic talent from her mother, a professional artist, and precision and technical discipline from her father, a retired engineer—qualities that perfectly complement the intricate demands of miniature art.

From an early age, Claire enjoyed creating with her hands, whether drawing, sewing, woodworking, or transforming discarded materials into something new. After earning an honours degree in Fashion Design Technology, she established her own Picture Framing and Frame Restoration business in 2001, where her appreciation for craftsmanship, gilding, and meticulous attention to detail continued to flourish.

Claire’s discovery of Verre Églomisé brought together her lifelong passion for drawing and her artistic training. Growing up in the Gloucestershire countryside, she developed a deep appreciation for the natural world, which remains a constant source of inspiration. Insects, birds, and reptiles frequently feature in her highly detailed and distinctive work.

Verre Églomisé (pronounced vair egg-loam-ee-zay) is the art of applying gold leaf to the reverse side of glass using a gelatine adhesive known as gold size. Intricate designs are drawn into the gold leaf with a fine needle, creating remarkably delicate detail. As the image is created in reverse and viewed through the glass from the opposite side, the technique demands exceptional artistic skill, patience, and precision.

Claire exhibited with the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers in London in 2014 and was elected as an Associate member (ARMS) in 2016, becoming a full member (RMS) in 2018. Claire also became a member of the Miniature Art Society of Florida (MASF) in 2017 and in 2020 was invited to become a full member of the Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington DC and The Hilliard Society in 2025.

Claire continues to exhibit and sell works locally at the Hilliard Society- Somerset. The Bath Society of Artists, The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) – Bristol, Nature in Art – Gloucestershire, Adrian Hill Fine Art – Norfolk, Broadway Arts Festival, Bristol 1904 Arts and Tyndale Arts- Dursley.

Awards:

Seaside Art Gallery – Best other media 2025

Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers – Peter Chales Booth Memorial award 2024, Elizabeth Meek MBE award 2024, Royal Miniature Society Group Award 2024, Gold Memorial Bowl Honorable Mention 2015, 2016 & 2019

Hilliard Society – NVW Award for Craftmanship 2021

Miniature Painters, Sculptors & Gravers Society of Washington DC – third place collage/mixed media 2020

Miniature Society of Florida – Honorable mention Animal Category 2025, Second – Bird category 2019, Second – Botanical category 2018