The way a seed grows where it falls, no matter whether it’s clinging to the edge of a waterfall or in between cracks in the asphalt. Those natural pathways that cut through the landscape, the curve of the slopes or the soft gradient of light leading you forward. How the light shimmers across the surface of the still, green-grey river. The landscape wearing the scars of generations.
These little snippets of nature in the UK are those gifts that make me stop for a moment. They are memories of childhood, cycling through the shaded country lanes of the Cotswolds, wandering along the banks of the River Trent or hunting for seashells on the Devon beaches, and then doing it all again decades later with my own son on the Welsh coast.
A New Collection Of Landscape Paintings
When in the studio, these are the scenes that I’m drawn to. So I’ve set about sketching them all, trying to capture those little moments of childhood awe and wanderlust.
With the natural evolution and conclusion of the “Highlands and Heather” series of Scottish landscape paintings, I’m craving something of a change of scenery. That’s not to say Scotland won’t feature in this next series, but I’ve been looking through some old studies, sketches, notes and photos of my times in the UK, and it’s re-fuelled my passion for the landscapes of home.
To begin work on this new series, I first need to decide on the perspective I want to take. Do I want to paint great dramatic skies coupled with minimal yet identifiable scenes? Do I want them to be expressive, tranquil, moody? The best way for me to start is with studying, looking and drawing, so I’ll be doing a lot of that before I think about painting anything.
My sketchbook is my new home, and it’s where I feel confident and free enough to try out new ideas, scrub paint around, play with markers and use mixed media to figure out what elements work best. Painting the same colours and scenes over and over will allow me to make small judgements about how the series should develop.
How can I add energy, interest, movement? The UK is known for its winds and it’s rainy, overcast skies. Can I still paint my favourite – mountains? How can I push myself artistically? What are my paintings lacking?
I hope to tackle these questions in the sketchbook and look forward to sharing the results (the successes and even the failures) here on my blog and over on Instagram.
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