Lull

Following my recent ‘Abandoned Spaces’ exhibition, I started to have ideas for a new body of work. I’ve been experimenting with inks in sketchbooks and trying slightly new ways of working. When using ink I normally favour the fine line pens but have recently been working with quink and white ink. After a few loose pieces, I came up with a more layered and detailed piece which I’ve called ‘Lull'.

The title of the new work relates to my interest in producing work that is peaceful and still. It is a reaction against the news which almost entirely focuses on what is wrong with the world. I didn’t feel that I wanted to add to that and so have set about planning work that is quiet, slow and serene. By having moments of serenity we are able to recharge our energy and are then better equip to cope with life. At the same time, by slowing down occasionally, we are able to find the moments of beauty that are all around us. The world is not perfect but by missing this beauty, we are left with a distorted view of life.

You can view ‘Lull’ in the woodland section of the website.

Fragments II

I have just completed a new painting, ‘Fragments II’, which is based on the same collapsed structure featured in my recent drawing. The work ties in with the other themes that i have been exploring but adds a new environment that is rarely featured in my work - the beach. As with the recent tree paintings natural elements mix with human made - debris and litter with rocks, grass and sand. Text features again with the graffiti adding a record of visits made to the site.

The structure appears to be the remains of a World War 2 pill box but could perhaps be something else. As with my other work the mystery of the space along with the evidence of passing time appeals to me.

Fragments II can be seen in the Abandoned Spaces section of this website.

Fragment

I have just completed a new piece of work based on a derelict World War 2 pillbox I discovered in Northumberland. The collapsed concrete structure is quite striking and caught my eye immediately as I approached the beach. A large piece of it, featured in the drawing, balances from where it once stood onto the rocks below appearing like a jagged bridge. People have scratched in their names onto the surface like they sometimes do on trees. The history of the original structure mixes with the recent history of visitors to the area. In addition, this area had the quiet atmosphere often associated with derelict buildings and like my recent tree paintings combined natural with human made elements.

The drawing, entitled ‘Fragment’, was created using ink pens and ink washes and can be found in the Abandoned Spaces section of this website.

XA

I have just completed another painting which is part of the new woodland collection.  This series differs from the previous work in that it looks at the interaction between people and nature.  The new painting, 'XA', shows a scene with a spray painted tree indicating a recent interaction. I recently visited a beach in Northumberland where a similar interaction had taken place.  

As with my other work this piece also looks at silence and stillness - there is something beyond words that is felt and not spoken and the painting is my way of expressing that.

Renewal

I have recently started looking at the forest once again for inspiration.  I enjoyed creating the woodland series three years ago and felt that there was more i could explore.  This time around i became interested in the traces people leave behind - cut branches, litter, paint marks etc  I found areas where people had recently left their mark - no longer present but traces remain.  As well as the man made trails there was also the more natural causes of change - trees broken by wind and storms, creating unusual forms and textures.  The forest never stays the same.

Aside from this surface visual level of interest, the new work will also look at themes of stillness and presence - being in the moment without thought, absorbed in the surroundings.  The idea is that the paintings capture this feeling as well as documenting the changes of time on a visual level.

The first painting in this series, "Renewal" has just been completed and i am really pleased with how it worked out.  I feel it has captured the essence of what i want to convey.  This can be viewed in the Woodland section of my website.

Arrival

I have now completed my new painting based on an urban area on the outskirts of Stafford town.  It depicts the side of a garage and the railway line behind it.  What attracted me to this space is the run down appearance of the area with the peeling paint, graffiti and cracked concrete.  It has a feeling that something has happened or is about to happen and at the same time is the sort of place that is often ignored or overlooked.  

The painting is called "Arrival" which refers to the theme of transport (the garage and railway line in the picture) but also the sense of becoming aware of the spirit of the area.  The scene in the image would not normally be something people would spend time with - it would be somewhere that was passed or used briefly, perhaps to park or drop off a vehicle.  Most of us spend much of our time thinking ahead of where we want to be rather than being aware of where we are and what we are doing,  So this painting looks at looking at something generally regarded as ugly in a new light and seeing that everything is fascinating given the right outlook. 

This work also connects to other work i have done that explored themes of abandonment and stillness.  I intend to work more in this area.