Following my successful exhibition at the Gallery Cafe in the Queens theatre Barnstaple in October and November 2006 I went travelling around New Zealand for three months. The starkness of and vibrancy of the landscapes is awesome. The colours are rich and fruity dripping with texture. The challenge as an artist is how to capture the sensuality of texture and colour to evoke a response. I have always tried to captivate the emotions of the mysteries of life and death.
I use mixed mediums primarily oils acrylics and pastels and sometimes whatever is at hand. I use watercolours from time to time in style of washes and tears always seeking to draw the view ever deeper into the depth of the painting.
'Redemption' on display in this exhibition is the third in a series using the rich depth of indigo in stark contrast to the red. The painting symbolises the stark transient realities of life where often we require someone to walk with us to rescue to lead to safety.
Colour texture and movement have always fascinated me. In my art I strive to explore and communicate human emotions in a variety of images. I find myself continually being stimulated by the ever-changing landscape whether of North Devon or the mighty rolling playful clouds you look down upon from the aeroplane window as they seek to engage with humanity. I believe that art is something that should not only be seen but must evoke a response from deep within!
Eleven years ago I moved to North Devon with my wife Jo and our two daughters living first in Chawleigh Chulmleigh and more recently at Roundswell Barnstaple where I am the vicar of Roundswell Multi Denominational Church. Since I was fifteen, faith has played a large part in my life. There have been many changes and ups and downs but Jesus has remained constant. For me art is a bit like faith, I start with a blank canvas and I take that first tentative step part of discovering the images, the textures, the emotions and then, having the courage to stop and know that it its finished.
I have painted for most of my life. When I was in Deptford London I received much encouragement from many artist friends. I would like to pay a special tribute to the encouragement I received from Arthur Parsons a brilliant artist and colleague who died last year. This was a sad yet inspirational time as I explored my own emotions in rich colours as a response to Arthur’s funeral. |