8 Mar '24: Organically grown outdoor reared art!

Landscape Artist UK - Painter & Printmaker

I'm an English landscape artist, based in Yorkshire, UK.

Artist's Statement

2 March 2024 - V4.6

An artist's statement, like their art practice, is always a work‑in‑progress. These are my latest thoughts on my art

Brief summary

Mediums: Original prints (esp., linocuts), oil paintings, and recently, digital painting.

Subjects: Outdoor – the English landscape (coast and countryside, both farmland and wilderness); occasional city scenes.

Where I work: En plein-air (I sketch and paint outdoors), and in my studio.

Based in: Yorkshire, UK.

Consistent elements/aspects:
  • All my art begins outdoors
  • Subject is always landscape compositions
  • Everything is rooted in direct observation and  realism
  • Finished works are presented in hand-built, hand-painted frames made by myself (style currently under review)

Experimental aspects: medium, degrees of realism

Themes (Recently distilled): Observed Places, Breathing Spaces, Lyrical Landscapes*, and Epics.
(These themes / collections are not yet presented here, though much of the art on this website currently falls into the first two) * Provisional title may change

Several shelves zoom off into the distance with numerous unframed oil paintings on them
Some of the plein-air oil paintings waiting for 'tickling' in the studio. Though the top right painting is waiting for taking out again, as progress got rained off.
A noticeboard has pinned to it, a couple of A4 sheets of paper, a small oil painting and a sketchbook. The sheets of paper are covered with small thumbnails.
Lists of projects I've got on my radar, and their progress. Yes, more than one list right now. And that is an actual sketchbook clipped to the wall on the right.
An A5 sketchbook lies open with various composition thumbnails and written notes in it
My current 'thinking' sketchbook. While it does come out and about with me, it's not for collecting observational sketches… as you can see.
I intend to get some better photos published here, though these are candid snapshots of my activities right now in March 2024.

An evolving art practice

I've been working through a phase of studies of a casual series of interests. All landscape art of course, and still manifesting in two mediums: linocut and oils.

I began methodically using digital painting during 2022-3, initially for developing ideas. These often resolved into 'finished art' and the medium is now firmly established in my collections.

During the beginning of 2024 I've been examining my fascinations, via a series of questions, seeking evidence of direction.

What have I been drawn to, or returned to? Are there connections or themes I've not been aware of, but instinctively explored? These questions have been insightful.

It's become clear the time for collecting and haphazardly exploring is over. Four themes that excite me (listed under overview) have emerged.

My art practice has evolved through three phases – the fourth is now beginning.

My creative growth is getting really interesting, and I'm excited. Of course I say that at every new phase in my artistic evolution!

All my art begins outdoors rooted in an observational art practice

All my art begins outdoors