About Tessa Houghton
Ever since I can remember I have always scribbled, sketched and painted. I went on to study Fine Art at Liverpool John Moores University and after completing my degree moved back to Lancashire for a short time. In 2000 I moved to Barcelona and began to paint the sea.
I would describe my work as semi abstract and mainly focused on natural landscapes. I work in oils and mixed media on canvas. My inspiration is taken from the places I spend the most time; the Catalonian coast, Pyrenees mountains and the dramatic and beautiful countryside of northern England.
I try to capture and translate a mood within my work based on limitless horizons and the ethereal qualities of light affecting landscapes and seascapes. I believe in the power of suggestion and my paintings tend to hover between abstraction and figuration. The resulting images are ambiguous rather than definitive. I like the idea that they will trigger a memory or a sensation by being recognisable or familiar in some way and the final interpretation is left open to the viewer. I like to play with and distort perspectives so that in one moment you may feel you are soaring above the landscape yet at others you feel you are able to walk right into it. Each painting offers a different perspective and possibility; sometimes dramatic, other times hazy and subdued. The viewer is invited to respond and react to them individually.
Paint and other mediums are applied in a variety of methods so that intense layers of texture contrast with areas of smooth subtlety. Whilst light and depth are key components, colour and form are simplified to capture the true essence of the subject matter.
My paintings have been exhibited extensively throughout the Uk and in various place around the world, such as Barcelona, Singapore, Hong Kong, and New York.
Exhibitions:
Solo
Sep 2014 'Recent Works' The Mermaid conference and events centre, London
Jan 2014 'Northern Landscape' The Bowery Art Gallery, Leeds
Oct 2012 'Northern Light' The Wap, Whittle Le woods
Apr 2011 'Traces of Light' The Lowry Hotel Manchester
Apr 2010 'Nuevas Perspectivas' Gracia Arts Project, Barcelona
Jun 2008 ‘Selected works’ Melisal Bistro Barcelona
Dec 2007 ‘Elements’ Gracia Arts Project, Barcelona
Sept 2007 'Horizons' Gracia Arts Project, Barcelona
Feb 2007 'Obres recientes' Galeria Ferlandina, Barcelona
Jan 2005 Smooth BCN, Barcelona
Jul 2000 The Howard Francis Gallery, Stockport
Jun 2000 The Ox, Manchester
Apr 2000 Barca', Catalan Square, Manchester
Jul 1998 Wade Smith, (Head Offices)Colonial Chambers, Liverpool
Group
Jul 2014 'Selected works' The Tetley Gallery Leeds
Jul 2014 'Selected works' Waterside Gallery StIves
May 2014 'Selected works' Gallery 54, Ross on Wye
Apr 2014 'Selected works' Art Exposure Gallery, Glasgow
Mar 2014 AAF Hong Kong, with Fairfax Gallery
Nov 2013 AAF Singapore, with Fairfax Gallery
Oct 2013 AAF Battersea Represented by Fairfax Gallery
Jun 2013 Yorkshire Artists Part 5, Leeds Gallery
Mar 2013 AAF Hong Kong, with Fairfax Gallery
Apr 2013 'Shore Things' Union Gallery, Edinburgh
Feb 2013 'LANDSCAPE' Gallery Top, Matlock, Derbyshire
Feb 2013 'Selected Works' Take To Art Gallery, Lichfield
Jan 2013 'New Year Show' Blackheath Gallery
Nov 2012 AAF Singapore, with Fairfax Gallery
Oct 2012 AAF Battersea, with Fairfax Gallery
Jul 2012 'Summer Show' The Russell Gallery, London
Jun 2012 'Summer Show' Blackheath Gallery, London
Apr 2012 Mayne Gallery, South Devon
Jan 2012 'Selected Works' George Thornton Gallery Nottingham
Oct 2011 'Selected Works' Canvas gallery, London
Nov 2011 'Christmas show' Blackheath gallery, London
July 2011 'Selected Works' Ascot Studios, Ribchester
May 2011 'Selected Works' Mooch Art Gallery, Manchester
Jan 2011 'New Year show' Blackheath gallery, London
Dec 2008 Villa Del Arte, C/Tapineria 39, Barcelona
Jun 2007 Galeria Ferlandina, Barcelona, Summer Show
Jul 1998 JMU Degree Show, Myrtle St Liverpool
Jul 1998 Mercedes Benz Road Range, Showroom,
Apr 1997 Hope Street Gallery, Liverpool
