I have been exploring the possibility that non-representational painting can express profound emotion. By developing a visual language of painterly motifs, squares, circles, and lines, my colour saturated canvases have intense colour bursts that evoke dramatic landscapes but remain resolutely abstract. They distil the colour, light and forms of nature into visions derived from the experience of movement and time, rather than abstracted representations of specific events or places.

In painting the natural landscape I find endless inspiration and a desire to capture the very essence of the place, the colours and shadows the seasons create, a moment in time caught forever. I am drawn to beautiful, evocative and timeless scenes. I aim to capture the mystery in reality.

With some scenes I have taken away the buildings and have tried to recreate what could have been there before the town expanded.

I find myself seeing further and deeper into the landscape when I paint, I start to see aspects of the scene which were at first just part of a whole come sharply into focus in their own right and makes me appreciate every blade of grass, every tree becomes more relevant, this is a rewarding part of my work.

I also paint ancient interesting houses and their land, where time seems to have stood still for hundreds of years, I also find this rewarding and insightful.

My body of work also includes portraits and floral studies, many of which have been commissioned. I work in Acrylic and pastel, small to large scale and have my work in both public and private collections. My paintings were also used on set by 20th Century Fox in 2010.

I am influenced by a broad range of artists including the Brotherhood of Ruralists, Romantics, Symbolists & Impressionists. These paintings feature scenes from Canada and Britain. My work strives to be a record of what we have and a comment on what we are already losing or have lost.

Claudia is an ‘Active Member’ of ‘The Federation of Canadian Artists’ http://www.artists.ca/ and a former member of the North Vancouver Community Arts Council.’

“I will be exhibiting my linocuts, etchings and watercolours. These are made entirely by hand and I very much enjoy the process of hand printing.” www.jasonclarke.darkalchemy.co.uk - Jason Clarke

Now in my 50’s, a long term resident in Bromley, one time world traveller, I like to paint from memory of places visited and those wild and quiet places of the world that still exist , that I have yet to see.

Wide open blue skies and wild empty places have always been a lure to artist – including myself. Winter , Summer, Autumn and Spring nature is beautiful at any time. These unspoilt vistas, often without human intervention, contrast starkly with landscapes primarily created by man.

This two-man exhibition by Colin Fifield and Ray Marshall has a “watery” theme which depicts varied aspects of rivers and canals, sea and coasts of England and abroad. Both artists are local but have travelled extensively in England and abroad.

Colin Fifield – profile
Colin lives on Shooters Hill, South East London. He first studied art and design at Camberwell School of Art from 1958 to 1962 specialising in Painting, Lithography and Illustration. He was awarded the National Diploma in Design (NDD) in 1962. From 1962 to 1964 he completed a two year post graduate course in Painting and Engraving at the Slade School of Fine Art, University of London where was awarded the Slade Diploma in 1964. His art has always been very eclectic. His interests range from landscape paintings in oils, watercolours and acrylics. His main inspiration comes from the landscapes of the South East Coast especially the areas of Dungeness, Deal and Hastings.

Ray Marshall – profile
Ray Marshall was born in Lambeth and moved to Plumstead, South East London, in 1975, where he has remained a local resident since. Having undertaken some formal study at Morley College, tutored by Lawrence Toynbee among others, Ray is mostly self-taught. His work covers an eclectic mix of subjects, taking inspiration from nature, architecture, historical references, dance and music and the general observation of the world around us.

Ray’s interests provide a wealth of stimulation as he enjoys walking in the countryside and urban settings, cross country running, motorcycling and bird watching, as a member of the RSPB. These activities afford the opportunity for collecting photos, sketches and notes which provide reference material for his work in watercolour, oils, pen and ink and pencil drawings.

This wide ranging body of work has been exhibited in a number of local shows and produced commissioned works for patrons both locally as well as in America, Canada and Australia.

Hayes School are proud to present an exciting body of Fine ART, Textiles and Photography work by both GCSE and ‘A ‘Level students. The work includes current course work and exam work from last year – all a culmination of the talents and commitment by both art staff and students alike. Head of Art Ms Catherine McKenna

This exhibition features a wide range of students’ skills and talents.

From Photographs to Fine Art textile hangings to paintings, our students have responded innovatively and uniquely to the complex world around them. Hayes students have captured with honesty and poignancy their fragile existence within the 21st Century.

This exhibition showcases the creative talents of the young artists, designers and photographers at Charles Darwin School.

Here at Charles Darwin we take pride in showcasing the creative talents of our students. Through the “Creative Explosion” exhibition, we aim to show off a variety of visual delights, looking across a range of ages, creative styles and themes. Some of the themes that will be shown through the art work include Identity, Journeys and Typography, influenced by such artists as Julian Opie, Javier Mariscal and Jamie Reid.

The work on display will come from Key stage 3, GCSE and A-Level students studying Art, Graphic Design and Photography.

George Fifield : An exhibition of original watercolours inspired by the landscape of Kent and the south coast. The artist who lives in Walmer, Kent has for many years been interested in a traditional style of English watercolour painting to portray the beauty of simple country landscapes. He is inspired by the ever changing and sometimes dramatic moods of our English weather.

George Fifield is a very experienced watercolour artist. He is a very prolific artist with a varied output and has been concerned with depicting the landscape of England and Wales for many years. He has followed in the footsteps of many famous English artists, Constable and Turner and especially artists of the Norwich School by travelling all round England and Wales sketching and recording the local landscape.

Although his main medium is watercolour he has ,in the past, used oil paint just as successfully in producing some very large canvases. This exhibition will be restricted to displaying his watercolours.

Although largely self taught George’s experience of painting for many years and his successful sales and exhibitions are a testament to his unique ability. His works have been shown widely both locally and nationally and many of his paintings have been exhibited in mixed and one -man exhibitions.

For me, Christmas has always been a special and magical time and throughout my artistic career I have always longed to have an exhibition that is wholly dedicated to the spirit of Christmas. A show that exists to bring joy and bursts of nostalgia to the spectators, a show that is appealing to both adults and children – I want visions of sugar-plums dancing in everyone’s head. I want everyone to feel the excitement and anticipation of the festive season, just like the children did in Clement C. Moore’s classic poem The Night Before Christmas as they lay snug in their beds. So here it is, Merry Christmas!

All my disciplines are bound together this season; watercolour paintings, drawings and lino cuts hang from the walls, just as shiny decorations hang from a happily trimmed Christmas tree. The images on display capture scenes and feelings from Christmas time and are inspired by seasonal music, films, stories, poems and not forgetting the food! This varied mix of artwork celebrates the contrasting themes of Christmas – sheer decadence, frivolity, innocence, nostalgia, hopefulness…the list could go on and on, much like Santa’s naughty list! This year I will be on the nice list for sharing my festive artwork with you. Good thing as I am still waiting for that pony to be under the tree… Marisa Saunders

Marisa Cherry Saunders has an MA in Printmaking and spends most of her time cutting into lino and drawing. Her work has been described as ‘folky and intricately beautiful’. Visit her website at www.blackcherryart.co.uk. She is available for commissions and now does bespoke invitations for all occasions, including weddings.

Visit her online art shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/kookycherry

Jess levine is a self taught artist, working mainly in collage as a way of describing emotion, landscape, travel, and life experiences.

“I don’t like to limit myself to one discipline, instead drawing on collage as a way of initially exploring ideas, which i may later develop using oil paint.

My work is often open ended in terms of impact. i like the viewer to bring something of themselves to the process, rather than having meaning imposed by the maker, that is , that in a sense the image answers back to both the viewer and the maker.

I use a wide range of sources for inspiration. I am drawn to the sensory element of making art work, and therefore incorporate a wide range of materials, ranging from staples, sand, paper, maps, and using bleach to create different effects within my work. “ ( jess levine 2011 )