It All Starts With An Adventure

If there’s one thing I’ve missed over the last few months, it’s been the freedom to head out into the wilder parts of the country, staying overnight where necessary, and seeking out fresh new source material. The ‘staying overnight’ bit is particularly important since, for me, having our trusty campervan, with all its associated comforts, convenience and portability, is an integral part of the adventure.

My paintings have been inspired by trips out into the landscape for as long as I can remember, and have accumulated many fond memories of trudging over soggy moors, traversing high, windy mountain ridges and waking to nothing but the sounds of the great outdoors. In fact, if I’ve ever found myself in a rut, not knowing what to paint next, then a good long walk has always provided the tiny spark of inspiration required to kickstart me back into action again. Whether it be a rocky climb or a gentle riverside stroll, a day’s hike is always guaranteed to bag me a handful of new, creative ideas, and the inspiration to put paint, or pencil, to paper.

My over-riding priority, then, has always been a very simple context; to get out there and experience the landscape at first hand. I carry a small painting kit wherever I go and make the occasional location sketch, but I must confess, these days, my primary information gathering tool is a camera, part of my process being to shoot video of the locations I visit. The video editing process provides me with a different perspective on things (and fulfils one of my other passions… I’ve often said that if I hadn’t become an artist, film director or editor would have been a second-best choice). The process encourages me to see those locations in a new, fresh way, and formulate ideas based on those observations. More often than not, I would describe the landscape – almost any landscape – as being ‘cinematic’… and if I’m honest… that’s the vibe I’m constantly trying to tap into.

Every painting, then, starts with an adventure, and that’s an element I’ve been somewhat starved of for the last 12 months. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve managed to find lots of good, wholesome material close to home, but there’s nothing quite like loading the van up with gear ready for a few nights away in a new location, planning walks in that location, discovering new pathways and unseen vistas, and enjoying clear night skies, unpolluted by the glow of civilisation.

There’s so much to see… so little time…