'Guard House' selected for the RBSA Prize Exhibition 2020

I was pleased to find out today that my drawing, ‘Guard House’ has been selected for the RBSA Prize Exhibition 2020. This piece is based on RAF Tilstock, an abandoned airbase near Whitchurch. It was created during the lockdown period and is my favourite drawing I have made so far. It captures the feeling I had when I walked about the site and I enjoyed using the pens and ink washes to create the various surfaces.

The exhibition runs from the 8th October to the 21st November. Visit the RBSA website for more details.

Guard House

I have just completed a new ink drawing based on RAF Tilstick, an abandoned World War 2 airbase near Whitchurch. The title of the piece is ‘Guard House’ and it can be found in the War Remains section of this website. It is part of an ongoing series of work based around war remains but also continues the theme of dereliction that has featured in my work for a long time now.

The building is from the same site that was featured in my ‘Union’ painting that recently won the RBSA Gallery Open Exhibition. This drawing was made using fine line pens and liquid black ink, a medium that takes a lot of concentration as it cannot be corrected once applied.

My next work will most likely feature RAF Upper Heyford, an airbase in Oxfordshire.

Brunswick Tower

I’ve just completed a new drawing, ‘Brunswick Tower’, which features a structure located at RAF Upper Heyford, an abandoned airbase in Oxfordshire. This tower was situated by the weapons storage area and was occupied by a single member for 8 hour shifts at a time.

This piece was created using ink pens and watercolour. Normally my ink drawings are in black and white but I thought I would try a colour tint this time for a bit of variation. The work can be found in the ‘War Remains’ section of this website.

Grounded

I’ve just completed a new painting entitled ‘Grounded’.  This is based on a derelict World War 2 airbase in Staffordshire and looks at themes of abandonment and solitude.  The painting has a softer and more subtle technique which I think helps to create the right mood - one of stillness, calm and introspection.  This is a retreat from the overactive mind and the busy routine of daily life.  With this view, everything becomes beautiful, interesting or both.