ABOUT
Caia Matheson is a contemporary oil painter based in Eastbourne, East Sussex. Her richly layered abstract and figurative paintings explore themes of duality, transformation and journey—light and darkness, stillness and movement, the seen and unseen. Drawing on memories, landscapes and lived experience, her work reflects a lifelong fascination with contradiction, cultural identity and the traces left by travel.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Matheson spent her early childhood immersed in the wildlife of Kruger National Park while also absorbing the stories and traditions of the Xhosa and Zulu cultures through those who helped raise her. At the age of seven, she moved with her family to Tokyo, Japan, where the contrasts between East and West, nature and metropolis, tradition and modernity became formative influences. Frequent journeys between Japan, South Africa and across Asia—including Thailand, Singapore and the Seychelles—instilled an enduring curiosity about place, memory and the emotional landscapes of travel that continue to inform her paintings.
Returning briefly to Johannesburg during apartheid, Matheson experienced the powerful symbolism of division and belonging, deepening her awareness of paradox and colour as both emotional and political language. At sixteen she moved to London to study Art and Languages. After working in fashion, music, event production and set design, she completed a Distinction in 3D Art & Design at Barnet College in 1994 before dedicating herself fully to painting.
Following several years developing her practice in East London, Matheson established a studio in Brighton in 2002. She was voted Brighton Artist of the Year in 2004, followed by a sold-out solo exhibition. Her work has since been exhibited widely throughout the UK and internationally, including the Affordable Art Fair (London and Singapore), TOAF, LAPADA and FLUX exhibitions. Her painting Forest Fire was selected by Neil Gaiman for A Calendar of Tales(2013), her work featured in the BBC drama Page Eight (2011), and in 2014 she painted Europe’s first Rainbow Pedestrian Crossing on Madeira Drive, Brighton.
Recent exhibitions include The Odyssey at Hastings Contemporary Museum (2026), Urban Pulse (2026), FLUX exhibitions (2021–2024), and the Women in Art Exhibition at Gallery Elena Shchukina (2018). A professional artist for over 30 years, Matheson continues to exhibit internationally, undertake private commissions and serves as Chair of Creative Eastbourne.
2021 | Luxembourg Art Prize Certificate of Artistic Merit | Luxembourg
2020 | Luxembourg Art Prize Certificate of Artistic Merit | Luxembourg
2019 | Luxembourg Art Prize Certificate of Artistic Merit | Luxembourg
2016 | Luxembourg Art Prize Certificate of Artistic Merit | Luxembourg
2015 | Finalist Connect2Colour Summer Arts Prize London | UK
2014 | Painted Europe’s first Rainbow Pedestrian Crossing in Brighton | UK
2013 | Painting selected by author Neil Gaiman featured in ‘A Calendar of Tales’
2011 | Paintings featured in Spy Drama ‘Page Eight’ | BBC Television
2004 | Winner Brighton Artist of the Year | UK
2005 | Nominated for the Ambassadors Art Prize | Belgium
2005 | Nominated for the Women’s Art Show Basingstoke | UK
2004 | Shortlisted for the Brighton Festival Art Prize | UK
EDUCATION
BTEC Foundation Diploma in Fine Art and 3D Design (Distinction)
Wood Street Campus Barnet London, UK
A Level Art & History of Art
Lansdowne College Bark Place Kensington London, UK
International School of the Sacred Heart Tokyo Japan
EXHIBITIONS
2026 | 28 March-31 May | Odyssey Group Exhibition | Hastings Contemporary Museum | Hastings
2026 | 22 May – 15 July | Urban Pulse Group Show | Gallery Grounds | Southampton
2026 | June | Group Show | Wimpole Estate | Royston | Cambridgeshire
2025 | October-November | Group Show | NatWest | Cambridge
2025 | December | Rowan Charity Auction | Cambridge
2024 | 25-28 July | FLUX Exhibition | 206 Marylebone | London
2024 | September | Group Show | NatWest | Cambridge
2023 | 7-10 December | FLUX Exhibition | 178 St James Piccadilly | London
2022 | 17-26 June | FLUX Exhibition | Design District | Greenwich Peninsula | London
2022 | Feb-March | Raising the Bar | Online Art Auction
2021 | November | FLUX Exhibition Design District | Greenwich Peninsula | London
2019 | July | Turning Tides Festival | Greenwich Peninsula | London
2019 | July | Women in Art Exhibition | Elena Shchukina Gallery | Mayfair | London
2019 | March | FLUX Exhibition | The National Army Museum Chelsea | London
2018 | May-June | Group Exhibition | Elena Shchukina Gallery Mayfair | London
2018 | April FLUX Exhibition | Chelsea College of Arts | Chelsea | London
2017 | October | Private Solo Exhibition | Stefano Ricci | Mayfair | London
2017 | July | FLUX Exhibition | Chelsea College of Arts | Chelsea | London
2017 | May-June | Group Exhibition | Elena Shchukina Gallery | Mayfair London
2016 | November | FLUX Exhibition | The Old Truman Brewery | London
2015 | December FLUX Exhibition | The Royal College of Art | London
2015 | August | Connect 2 Colour Exhibition | Lacey Contemporary Gallery | London
2015 | July | Elements Exhibition | Gabriel Fine Art Gallery | Notting Hill Gate | London
2015 | June | ‘Lungs’ Exhibition | Onca Gallery | Brighton
2015 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2015 | April | Women’s Art Exhibition | Brush Gallery | Brighton
2015 | February | BOAT Theatre Auction | Brighton
2014 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2014 | October | ACHICA Promotion | Online
2014 | October | The Other Art Fair | Old Truman Brewery | London
2014 | September | RISE Charity Auction | Amex Stadium Brighton
2014 | June | Painted Europe’s first Rainbow Pedestrian Crossing | Brighton
2014 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2014 | April | The Other Art Fair | Ambika P3 Mayfair | London
2014 | March | Private Solo Exhibition | Clyde & Co Solicitors | Guildford | Surrey
2013 | December | Private Solo Exhibition | The Hospital Club | London
2013 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2013 | November | World Aids Day Charity Exhibition | Brighton Dome | Brighton
2013 | November | Art4Aid Charity Auction | Plumpton | Sussex
2013 | Affordable Art Fair | Battersea | London
2013 | October | The Other Art Fair | Old Truman Brewery | London
2013 | September | Down To The Bone Exhibition | Onca Gallery | Brighton
2013 | September | Northern Art Exhibition | West Yorkshire
2013 | July | Oxford Art Fair | Oxford
2013 | June | Painting selected for book A Calendar of Tales Book by Author Neil Gaiman
2013 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2012 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2012 | October | Affordable Art Fair | Singapore
2012 | September | Affordable Art Fair | Battersea | London
2012 | September | Group Show | Store Street Gallery | London
2012 | September | LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair | London
2012 | May | Group Show | Art in the Windmill | Rottingdean
2012 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2012 | January-June | Group Show | Laughing Dog Gallery | Brighton
2011 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2011 | November | Group Show | Dame Vera Lynn Trust Auction | Horsham
2011 | October | Group Show | Off Beige Exhibition | Brighton
2011 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2011 | April | Group Show | Tsunami Relief Art Auction | London
2011 | January | Solo Show | Skyline Gallery | Brighton
2011 | March | Artwork in Gallery filmed for BBC Television Spy Drama Page Eight
2011 | March | Group Show | Figuratively Speaking Exhibition |
2010 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2010 | July | GroupShow | Blue Dog Gallery | Brighton
2010 | May | Hove Champagne Festival VIP Room | Brighton
2010 | May | ARTY Auction | Brighton
2010 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2009 | June | Cambridge Art Fair | Cambridge
2009 | October | Glasgow Art Fair | Glasgow
2009 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2008 | April | Artwork Filmed for ‘Man in a Box’ Film | Cannes Film Festival | France
2008 | May |Five at Five Exhibition | Art 5 Gallery | Brighton
2008 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2008 | October | Edinburgh Art Fair | Edinburgh
2008 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2007 | May-July | Visual Dialogues Group Exhibition | M.P Birla Millenium Art Gallery | London
2007 | May | Group Show | 1215 Gallery | Windsor | Berkshire
2007 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2007 | May-September | Group Show | Blue Moon Gallery | Tunbridge Wells
2007 | September | Manchester Art Fair | Manchester
2007| October | Affordable Art Fair | Battersea Park | Battersea | London
2007 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2006 | May | Canvas | Group Show | Blanche House | Brighton
2006 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2006 | October | The Affordable Art Fair | Battersea | London
2006 | December | The Great Christmas Art Fair | London
2006 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2005 | May | Group Show | Contemporary Gallery | Brighton
2005 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2005 | June | You Are Here Solo Show | Art 5 Gallery | Brighton
2005 | September | Group Show | Contemporary Gallery | Hove
2005 | September | Group Show | The Women’s Art Show | Basingstoke
2005 | October | The Ambassador’s Art Prize | Belgium
2005 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2004 | May | Pendulodic | Sallis Benney Theatre | Brighton
2004 | May | The Big Blip Science Art and Technology Festival | Brighton
2004 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2004 | May | Urban Art Trail | Brighton
2004 | May | Group Show | The Rood Screen Exhibition | Brighton
2004 | May-December | Group Show | Brighton Wave Hotel | Brighton
2004 | May-December | Group Show | Claremont Hotel | Brighton
2004 | May-December | Group Show | Oriental Hotel | Brighton
2004 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2004 | December | Artist(e) Group Exhibition | Brighton Fringe Basement | Brighton
2003 | May | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
2003 | May-June | Group Show | Under The Arches | Brighton UK
2003 | May-December | Group Show | Tanning Gallery | Brighton
2003 | December | Brighton Festival Artists Open Houses | Brighton
Exhibition List prior to 2003 available on request