Brantwood
Studio, 6 January – 17 March 2024
As
a child living near Morecambe, the fells across the Bay seemed to me
a mysterious land awaiting exploration. That feeling of wonder, of
the Bay and the land beyond, has never left me, and has been the
inspiration for the paintings in this exhibition.
The
experience when I was eight years old of walking across the sands,
with their shifting river channels and quicksands, sparked off a
strong interest in the natural processes that make and remake the
landscape. The River Lune near my home in Lancaster was another
source of inspiration.
Oils on board (see 'Morecambe Bay' gallery page)
I
began a series of small paintings on the Bay theme during the 2020
lockdown. Painting from sketches and photographs was a way to
continue my connection with the area. As restrictions eased I was
able to revisit favourite places and explore new ones with sketchbook
and camera.
Oils on aluminium (see 'Geology Squares' gallery page)
In
2022 I began another series, which I call my 'geology squares',
painted on aluminium. The frames have a deep moulding that allows
the image to 'float' above the black background. The subjects are
chosen to show off the beauty of rock in the landscape and convey
something of the natural processes at work on Britain's shores and
uplands. They can be wall-hung, but are also small enough to be
displayed free-standing on a shelf or desk.
Oils on canvas, and watercolours (see below)
The
larger paintings of the sands are the most recent, done in the light
of the invitation to exhibit at Brantwood. The 'beyond' in the title
also gives me room to include subjects from Grasmere, Borrowdale and
St Bees Head.