Caitlin Smail was born in New York but grew up in London. Her grandfather was the American artist and photographer, Curtis Moffat (See Curtis Moffat's work at the V&A's new Photographers' Gallery).

She studied for a diploma in Fine Art at the Academie de Porte Royale in Paris before going up to New Hall College in Cambridge to read Art History. Her early career was in photography and graphic design.

In 2004 she graduated from Central St Martins College (part of the London University of the Arts) with a BA in Fine Art. She has also recently completed her MA in Art Therapy at the University of Hertfordshire.

She lives in North London with her 2 children.

ARTIST STATEMENT
My current perspective centres on art as a therapeutic outlet for traumatic and repressed memories of events and situations. The complex nature of mortality, loss and emotional trauma often render their expression difficult or impossible because so much is tied-up deep within the subconscious.

Using a wide range of media (paint, photography, 3-D construction) and a range of complimentary stimuli (like music, lighting, visual obstruction and work environment) and combining some of the products of these differing media and techniques, I experiment with ways to give voice to the subconscious.