Editorial Feature
“For me, painting is an interpretation of life and the world around me. It’s about exploring how people interact with each other and their environment and creating a picture that stirs intangible responses – the ones that can’t be measured but are fully understood by everyone.”
across the sea have never ceased to captivate him. "I've lived in Devon for a long time", he said "but I still feel like I'm on holiday. I keep thinking someone's going to say time to come back to Leeds now". Nigel's passion for art began in his early teens. Entirely self-taught, he continued learning, experimenting and honing his painting skills in parallel withworking as a set designer and sign-maker for Yorkshire TV - including creating the sign for Emmerdale’sWoolpack pub – and hand-painting bespoke kitchen furniture. But it wasn't until his 40s when a broken leg forced him to put physical work on hold that he decided to study formally for a fine art degree fromPlymouth University. The first years of the coursewere at North Devon College andwithin six weeks of starting, hewas offered a part time teaching post there. "It was an unusual situation being both student and teacher", he reflected "but I really enjoyed it and it was a very goodway to fundmy course." He gained his degree at age 50 and continued teaching for some years before becoming a full time professional artist. PERSONAL CALLIGRAPHY Nigel creates his pieces in one sitting using the alla prima technique, which entails applyingwet paint ontowet paint without waiting for each layer to dry. This produces awonderful surface fluiditywith the paint always visible, giving a natural, spontaneous feel. Working almost exclusively in oils, he deliberately uses a limited palette of five colours and three brushes. "It creates harmonywithin the piece as well as between the paintings," he explains "and by using just three brushes, the brushmarks chime with each other too." With influences including Rembrandt, Sickert, Vuillard, Degas andWhistler, he starts each piece by applying a mid tone grey acrylic to the canvas. "This was amethod used byWalter Sickert. It eliminates all thewhiteness of the canvas, allowingme to create dark and light tones
34 FIN e ARTC o LL e CT o R SPRING2016
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