I have just completed a new drawing called “Cathedral Cavern’ based on Llanfair Slate Cavens in North Wales. I visited the site during the summer and was fascinated to learn about the history and working conditions that the miners experienced. The Cathedral Cavern is the largest area of the mine and the only space that lets in natural light. This piece started off with washes of graphitint pencil to add colour and then I used several layers of dark pencil over the top to add textures, shadows and details.
I have since returned to Snowdonia and visited another cavern at Tanygrisiau. This mine was considerably larger and deeper and was very inspiring to see. The surrounding area outside was bleak but beautiful and has provided me with further subject matter to work with. I’m increasingly drawn to quiet landscapes and this place was just right.
Llanfair Slate Caverns
I recently returned from North Wales where I visited Snowdonia and various other places in the area. I was very much inspired by my trip to to Llanfair Slate Caverns near Harlech. The history of the area is interesting and I enjoyed learning about the working conditions of the miners. The tunnels felt quite atmospheric and I took a number of photos while I was there.
Back in my studio I began to put together some compositions inspired by my visit and have just completed my first drawing. It’s in the new ‘Slate Caverns’ section of my website. This new piece was created using graphitint and pencil which seemed to suit the textures of the rock. More to follow!
Exhibition Award, New Work and Forthcoming Shows
I am pleased to announce that I have been awarded the ACAVA Studios Artist Development Prize at the Three Counties Open Exhibition for my painting ‘GEC’. I will be having a meeting soon to find out more about this creative opportunity. The exhibition is held at The Burslem School of Art and has been organised by Keele University. You can view the exhibition online on the Barewall Gallery website.
I have just completed a new graphitint drawing featuring a derelict ceramics factory in Middleport. This is the same building that features in my painting ‘Inside Out’. It was good to tackle the subject with a different medium as it brings out different qualities due to the nature of the water soluble pencils. The new drawing is called ‘Return’ and can be found in the ‘Abandoned Spaces’ section of my website. This drawing, along with ‘The Mirror Tree’ piece, will feature in the forthcoming Birmingham Art Circle Exhibition at the RBSA Gallery in Birmingham.
I have plenty of other ideas on the go including a new acrylic painting which is almost halfway through now. Life is never boring!
The Memory Tree
I have just completed a new graphitint drawing based on an area of Cannock Chase. I’ve only used this medium a few times before for quick sketches but this time I’ve produced someone more layered and detailed. I discovered this tree on a walk with the family a while back and was struck by how unusual it looked and the small faded photo frame that had been nailed to the side. Who was this person? Who put it there? I like scenes that have a bit of mystery to them! You can view the drawing in the Woodland section of this website. It is called ‘The Memory Tree’.
New work and Exhibitions
I’ve just completed a new drawing called ‘Milvale Street’. which is based on some derelict buildings I discovered whilst urban exploring in Middleport. For this one I used a new set of graphitint pencils which I have never tried before. I like the muted colours and the way I can build up textures and washes quite quickly. It’s a medium I think I will used again.
I also have an ink drawing and acrylic painting planned which will feature buildings from the same area. There are a few factories near the canal which have become abandoned but you can see traces of the past when the ceramics industry was thriving.
I have two ink drawings selected for the forthcoming Society of Graphic Fine Art Annual Exhibition which runs from the 17th to the 21st May at the Mall Galleries in London. My pieces include ‘The Igloo’ and ‘Whiskey 13’ which are both based on buildings from RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire.