Matthew Hemming

Each of us sees the world differently through a veil of personal experience. I communicate my interpretations through layering of paint, graphite, pastel and charcoal, expressing moments at every line, every edge.

My recent work is a reflection of nature. The subtle colours and textures of nature inspire me – especially those found in the hills of the Welsh Marches in autumn, or Scandinavia in mid-winter – conveying them through medium washes and emphatic marks. Colour is used as a counterpoint—as a means to control energy and direct the eye. My process demands the motion of the entire body, not just the hand. Each painting ultimately seeks to balance the progression of growth (found in both nature and the act of painting) with a reduction of form, where simple tones, textures and structures reflect my attitude to painting where ‘simplicity is beautiful’ – a maxim worthy of consideration in these bleak times of sensory overload.

“Picturing things, taking a view, is what makes us human.”
Gerhard Richter, Notes, 1962

BA (Hons) Illustration
University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom

Hastings College of Arts & Technology, United Kingdom