I’m pleased to announce that my acrylic painting, ‘Flux’ has been selected for the forthcoming Three Counties Open Exhibition at The Burslem School of Art. The show has been organised by Keele University and features artists from across Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire.
I’m currently working on a commission and then plan to return to an urban landscape that I’ve currently got on hold. Busy as always!
Quiet Spaces
I currently have a solo exhibition at The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle under Lyme. It features a selection of my work, 21 pieces in total, with a mix of urban and natural landscapes. I used to think that these two strands were quite different but really, both are about the power of nature and our relationship with the environment. The abandoned buildings are places that show traces of human activity and in our absence, nature starts to take over. In my natural landscapes you can see evidence of human interaction with the space. None of the pictures however, feature people and this gives the work a quiet and contemplative mood.
The exhibition runs until the 15th June and is free to view. Do pop down and take a look.
Abandoned Spaces
Thank you to to everyone that attended the private view for my ‘Abandoned Spaces’ exhibition at ACAVA Spode Works Studios, Stoke on Trent. It was great to see all the pictures on the walls as a collection and see how the different pieces worked together. I am hoping that through the drawings and paintings, people will be able to appreciate and understand what I find so inspiring in places such as these. From a conventional point of view, derelict buildings are not beautiful but when you stop and look more closely, these places do have something to say. The rich variety of textures and the way nature takes over the space is fascinating and inspiring. There is also a sense of stillness which can be very calming.
I will be at the exhibition space on Friday 3rd March working on a new drawing. Do pop down and say hello and I will show you around the work.
New Painting
I’ve just completed a new acrylic painting which I’ve called ‘Flux’. It is based on the interior of a derelict ceramics factory in Stoke-on-Trent which I visited last year. I was fascinated by how the building was slowly falling apart and the way nature was starting to return to parts of the building. The colours, textures and shapes all looked fascinating to me. Although there was no electricity, the roof windows bathed the rooms in warm light.
‘Flux’ will appear in my ‘Abandoned Spaces’ exhibition which starts on the 24th February at Spode Works in Stoke-on-Trent. You can see an image of it in the ‘Abandoned Spaces’ section of my website.
Vacation
I have just completed a new acrylic painting which I’ve called ‘Vacation’. It features a derelict ceramics factory in Middleport as seen from across the canal. The abandoned caravan caught my attention and made it appear as if someone had chosen to have a holiday amongst an overgrown and neglected part of Stoke-on-Trent. There was something absurd but also sad about the scene. It is the same building that appears in my ‘Inside Out’ and ‘Outside In’ paintings. This piece will feature in my next solo show next year. You can view it in the ‘Abandoned Spaces’ section of my website.
Outside In
I’ve just completed a new acrylic painting based on the abandoned ceramics factory I discovered in Middleport. It is the same building featured in the ‘Inside Out’ painting which is currently on display at the RWA Gallery in Bristol. As usual, I was fascinated by the way nature takes over the spaces we leave behind and also how the light gently breaks through, bathing the leaves with an ethereal glow. This painting will feature in a new solo exhibition next year at Stoke on Trent (details to follow). You can view my new painting in the ‘Abandoned Spaces’ section of my website.
Guard House wins the 'Belong Prize'
I’m really pleased to announce that my ink drawing, ‘Guard House’, has won the ‘Belong Prize’ at The Brampton Museum and Art Gallery Open Exhibition 2022. This drawing depicts one of the buildings at the derelict RAF Tilstock site. It’s a really good show in the new exhibition space and is well worth a visit. It runs until the 30th October.
Three Counties Open Exhibition 2021
I’m pleased to announce that my painting ‘Inside Out’ has been selected for the Three Counties Open Exhibition 2021. This normally takes place at Burslem School of Art but this year will take the form of an online exhibition, available to view throughout the summer.
My selected work is based on an abandoned ceramics factory in Middleport, which I discovered during a day of urban exploring with printmaker Jemma Gunning last year.
I’m currently working on a new painting featuring another derelict factory, this one based on the GEC factory in Stafford which was recently demolished. Both pieces form part of a collection of work exploring the decline of industry.
Urban Exploring
Last weekend I met up with Jemma Gunning to explore parts of Stoke-on-Trent in order to find derelict buildings. We have both independently worked on this theme before but this was the first time we had visited the same site. The idea was that it would be interesting to share ideas and to compare how we both responded to the same visual stimulus.
We ended up in Middleport and discovered abandoned ceramics factories along the canals. These places were falling apart and nature was beginning to take over the spaces. Remnants of the factory work shared space with litter and random debris. We found a sofa outside one place and a graffiti covered caravan too.
These places are ugly seen from one perspective but there is a peculiar beauty and fascination to them too. You think about the loss of industry but also wonder at where all these additional random items originated from. Myself and Jemma took a lot of photos that day and look forward to beginning new work.
Summer Exhibition and new paintings
The Summer Exhibition at Reuben Colley Fine Art starts on the 11th July and includes three of my paintings, "By the Tracks", "Arrival" and my most recent piece "Exit". The exhibition also features work by several artists represented by the gallery.
My latest painting "Exit" features the car park of an abandoned job centre. I am currently working on a follow up piece that shows the same building from another angle. This once busy place is now left unattended and is beginning to shows signs of neglect. Broken windows, graffiti and litter now catch the eye as you walk about.
I have entered two drawings and one painting into the Three Counties Open Art exhibition at the Burslem School of Art. It would be nice to have something included.