Carol Lye

Carol Lye’s expressive voyage is one steeped in culture and decades of experience. Originally from Auckland, New Zealand, she has been enamored with art since childhood. “My self taught creative journey began in high school,” says Carol. “My creative process is founded in experimentation.” After spending thirty years living on the Gold Coast of Australia, Carol moved to the United States in 2022 with her American husband, settling comfortably in St. Augustine. While she spent many years painting with acrylics on canvas, more recently, Carol has focused on the vibrant and expressive possibilities of ink. “I create colorful, cheerful, and uplifting works, most of which incorporate the New Zealand, traditional spiral Maori Koru,” she explains, “which resembles new life, growth, strength, peace, harmony, and the continuous cycle of life.” Though her love for art was born in her native New Zealand, Carol immersed herself in a wide range of artistic mediums and styles while raising her family in Australia. Now embracing the creative prospects of the Sunshine State, Carol reflects, “I find that the natural beauty of Florida is a constant source of inspiration, which I channel into each of my newer creations.” Combining symbols and techniques that display her cultural heritage with her love of nature, each piece Carol creates is a reflection of her heart and soul. A member of High Tide Gallery for only a short time thus far, Carol’s impartation of light and movement are a welcome fit to the gallery’s bright, energetic aura. “I love the cohesive energy that reciprocates between my work and the ambience of the gallery,” she says.