What we leave behind Print

This is part of a series of works inspired by Beacon Hill and Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire, UK. Some of the series is totally abstract while others are closer to recognisable landscapes. This one was inspired by mist forming over the ancient rocks. The rocks there are both dramatic and distinctive in their strange jagged formations and the area is of significance because of pre-Cambrian Charnia fossils and a history of human occupation since at least the iron age. The title is a reference to the layers of history I feel when I walk there. I want to express the feel and mood of the place rather than depict a specific location. My work is more about my internal thoughts than the external view. The landscape is only a starting point for the work. I hope the finished paintings have universal appeal rather than only being of interest to a person who knows the particular area. There are many thin glazes of oils applied over the textured surface to create a translucent effect in contrast with the thick impasto areas. Some of the rock shapes are built up with heavy paint and then scratched and sanded to reflect the way the rocks have fissures and scars. John Piper was a big influence on this. I made many studies in watercolour, ink and charcoal inspired by his mountains of Wales work. My other main references are JMW Turner, Monet and contemporary artists Chu Te Chun, Zao Wou-Ki, Darren Waterston, Lissa Bockwrath, Chris Rivers, Ella Baudinet and Cruz Jimenez. I hope the viewer can feel something of the mysteries of walking across an ancient landscape layered with history.