Clarissa Russell has been established for more than 30 years as a renowned professional Artist. She studied painting and etching at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art in London after which she lived and worked in Italy for several years and the clear light and bright colour have been a life long passion. She enjoys working in all media and has a wide variety of subject matter that includes portraiture, still life and landscape. Exhibiting widely both at home and abroad has led to regular invitations to submit work in galleries including the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Pastel Society in London. Examples of her work can be also found in private collections internationally.

Her reputation has earned her many commissions requiring patience and a quick response to capture the essence of her more 'difficult' subjects, namely those of children and animals.

She completed her Art Teacher's Diploma at London University and also studied restoration under the expert tuition of John Hume the President of the Restorer's Guild. Frequently asked to give demonstrations and criticisms at art societies all over the south of England, she has also been much in demand to run popular and well-attended courses and summer schools in a variety of different disciplines. Most recently, she has been leading 'the Big Draw' in the South of England as part of a national campaign to promote art.

Clarissa now lives in Hampshire with her graphic designer husband, large Alaskan Malamute and overweight cat. Her children are also artists and come from a family of artists and musicians.