I have just completed a new graphitint drawing, titled ‘New Life’. This piece was inspired by a chance encounter with a fallen tree during a walk with the family. My son remarked that he found it interesting how nothing is wasted in nature as the dead tree would become a habitat for new life forms.
I would imagine most people would not find dead trees particularly beautiful but I think when looked at from a certain perspective, they can be as fascinating and decorative as those thriving. When looking at nature I like to look at everything, new and old.
’New Life’ can be viewed in the ‘Woodland’ section of my website.
Ink Experiments
I have been experimenting again with quink ink and produced a new drawing that is both loose and descriptive at the same time. This time around I used a little blue ink alongside the black and white, finishing off with a thin brush to add details. The new piece is called ‘Glow’ and you can see it in the woodland section of this website.
At the moment I have no particular project in mind and so I am just enjoying playing with materials to see what I can come up with. The one thing I am sure about is that I want to create some work that is calm and peaceful. I tend to be drawn to quiet landscapes more than busy scenes.
The Memory Tree
I have just completed a new graphitint drawing based on an area of Cannock Chase. I’ve only used this medium a few times before for quick sketches but this time I’ve produced someone more layered and detailed. I discovered this tree on a walk with the family a while back and was struck by how unusual it looked and the small faded photo frame that had been nailed to the side. Who was this person? Who put it there? I like scenes that have a bit of mystery to them! You can view the drawing in the Woodland section of this website. It is called ‘The Memory Tree’.
Boundary
I have just completed a new acrylic painting based on an area of Cannock Chase which i’ve called ‘Boundary’. It is an image inspired by a photograph I took at the beginning of the year but felt relevant to me once the pandemic had hit the UK and we were told to stay at home. During the period before we were allowed to venture beyond the confines of our housing estate I felt very cut off from nature which seemed to be reflected in the large metal barrier in the front of the scene. I do not write diaries or share my personal feelings on social media but this painting is my response to the events that unfolded in 2020. It expresses more than I could put into words.
'Union' wins the RBSA Open Exhibition 2020
I’m really pleased to announce that my painting, ‘Union’, has won first prize in the RBSA Open Exhibition 2020. This piece depicts RAF Tilstock, an abandoned World War 2 airbase near Whitchurch and is part of a new body of work exploring war ruins. The exhibition features work by artists across the UK and runs until the 4th April at The RBSA Gallery.
Union
I have just completed a new painting entitled ‘Union’ which is based on the remains of RAF Tilstock. I discovered the site last year on my way to Wales and was very much fascinated by what I discovered. It combines my interest of history, dereliction and woodland and explores the relationship between nature and people. The area was deserted and still and I was able to take a number of photographs during my visit. I may produce further works based on the theme.
An image of the painting can be found in the Abandoned Spaces section of this website. It will feature in the Fragments exhibition in September.
'Entrance' wins the Barracks Trust Prize
Today I received the Barracks Trust Prize at the Brampton Museum and Art Gallery Open Art and Craft Exhibition 2019 for my ink drawing “Entrance’. This piece is based on an area at the edge of Cannock Chase, a forest in Staffordshire. I think it’s almost impossible to guess how your work will be received and so it is always a pleasant surprise to win an award. I also have two paintings in the same show, ‘Clearcut’ and ‘Clearcut 2’. The exhibition runs until the 12th May.
RWA Open Exhibition - Success!
I have just found out that my recent painting, ‘XA II’ has made it through the final round of the RWA Open Exhibition. This is the first time I have exhibited there and in fact anywhere in Bristol so it’s nice to be branching out. I’m really pleased with the painting and am looking forward to seeing the other work and meeting the artists.
The RWA Open runs from the 7th October to the 25th November 2018.
I am currently finishing off my current commission and will then be working towards my show next year.
Opening
I have just completed a new ink drawing entitled, 'Opening'. This piece is based on a quiet and slightly desolate looking area of Cannock Chase. The dead tree in the foreground is contrasted by the healthy tree just behind it. I like looking at both sides of nature and including both within a scene. The piece was made using fine liner pens and brushed ink.
I plan to use the ink and wash technique with some urban landscape imagery next. I have a few ideas planned for an exhibition next year.
Clearcut II and Three Counties Open Art
I have a lot more time to work on my art this year and as a result I have been able to produce more pictures than before. I have been working on an ink drawing and have plans to start working with lino printing.
Today I completed another painting in the current woodland series. This one is 'Clearcut II' which continues on from the previous piece. The series together looks at the relationship between people and nature and the imagery shows natural elements contrasting with the unnatural which creates an interesting narrative. The pieces work individually and also as a set.
I found out this week that my painting, 'The Shack', has been accepted into the Three Counties Open Art' exhibition which is held at The Burslem School of Art. This painting had recently returned from London after it featured in the New English Art Club Annual Exhibition.
Entrance
I have just completed a new ink drawing which is part of the new Woodland series that i am working on. It is called 'Entrance' and was created using fine liner pens and water soluble ink. I have worked in this medium in the past but not for some time and have enjoyed the process. The idea was to create an atmospheric drawing that was expressive and also descriptive.
The title refers to being on the edge of the forest but also describes the feeling of moving from one place into another. It's about change, new beginnings and new experiences.
XA II
I have just completed another painting in the new woodland series which is titled 'XA 2'. This is the companion piece to the previous piece although it exists in it's own right. This work looks at the relationship between people and nature and how we leave traces of ourselves behind. Often in nature it is easy to forget that changes are happening but the markings on the tree give evidence of a recent event.
I feel like my new woodland series is amongst my strongest work and look forward to producing a few more. I'm also working on an ink drawing on the theme.
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.
Paintings and teaching
I have a painting and two drawings included in the Brampton Museum Open Art exhibition at Newcastle Staffordshire. It's a very mixed show and the gallery is nice. One of my students from my art class, Emily Bradshaw, also had one of her paintings accepted which is well deserved.
I am currently working on my painting of the New Navigation Inn, a derelict pub near the canals of Birmingham. This piece is interesting because it is full of contrasting elements. Strong colour next to dark shadows, textured areas next to flat blocks of paint, detailed areas near open space and so on. I will be following this up with another, quite unusual painting which is based on a striking photo that i took in Birmingham near the canals.
I am currently doing slightly less teaching over the Easter period but will be back with my college courses as well as my own regular class at Gainsborough Artworks soon. The Gainsborough class is getting quite full but there are spaces on my college courses should you wish to join. See my art classes page for details.
I am getting excited about the forthcoming "Woodland" exhibition at Reuben Colley Fine Art gallery in Birmingham. This show features my Cannock Chase drawings and paintings and will be one of my largest and strongest exhibitions to date. This work has a lot of depth and meaning to me but also will resonate with anyone who appreciates nature.