Ashley Hanson

In all my work, I am intrigued by the dialogue and tension between image and the flat, map-like, painter’s space, and the different realities of information and imagination - between what inspires and drives the paintings and the uncertainties and excitement of the painting process. As an artist I crave/need surprise, not sameness: it is what you ‘do’ with the source material that matters, a piece must be its own thing, have its’ own life. Journeys, places, books, music, all generate ideas, providing catalyst and context, and colour always excites, but until it is resolved, a painting is a live thing, full of possibilities.
In his forward to ‘Il Mistero de Cattedrell’, Anselm Keifer wrote: ‘If there is too much order, it is dead; if there is too much chaos, it doesn’t cohere. I’m continually negotiating between these two extremes.’ Freedom and control is the contradiction of painting: finding the balance is the essence of my work.
Since 2011, I have been working on the ‘City of Glass series, inspired by ‘The New York Trilogy’, a novel by Paul Auster. It is thrilling to be working from another artform, combining images sourced from narrative and text with memories of my own experience of New York. As a painter I can relate to...

1980-83 Canterbury College of Art.
BA(Hons) Fine Art. 1st Class

1977-78 Dept.of Archiecture, Manchester University

2020 Winter Group Show, Linden Hall studio
2020 'Edge of Dark' Newlyn Society of Artists
2019 The Other Art Fair, March 14 -17,London
2019 'COLOURSCAPES', Heseltine Gallery
2018 Agora Gallery, New York
2018 Wells Art Contemporary Awards, Wells
2017 ‘Critic’s Choice’, Newlyn Society
2017 SHORTLISTED, RWA Open, Bristol
2017 ‘Inception’, Atrium Gallery Truro
2017 ‘The Edge of Landscape’, Plough Arts
2017 ‘Borders’, Newlyn Society of Artists,
2017 ‘Abstract’, Modern Artists Gallery,
2016 ING The Discerning Eye, London
2016 Shortlisted RWA Open, Bristol
2016 FINALIST, Lacey Contemporary Art
2016 LONGLISTED,- Jackson’s Art Prize
2015 FINALIST, Lacey Contemporary Art
2015 SHORTLISTED RA Summer Exhibition
2015 National Open Art Touring Exhibition
2015 Newlyn Society of Artists 293,
2015 SHORTLISTED, National Open Art
2014 ING The Discerning Eye, London
2014 ‘Brilliant Colour’ Falmouth Art Gallery,
2014 SHORTLISTED, RA Summer Exhibition
2014 SHORTLISTED, National Open Art
2013 Ludlow Open Exhibition
2012 National Open Art Competition,
2012 ING The Discerning Eye, London
2012 Ludlow Open Exhibition
2012 S...