Paintings from the Street

GX Gallery Opening

2009-10-25T11:47:00.002Z

The exhibition opened at 7.30 on Friday evening. I have to say that I was anxious about it, unsure how the attendance would be . . . I shouldn't have worried as the gallery was full to capacity with a great buzz.
Friends turned up from all over the country to support me and made it a wonderful and memorable evening.
I had to do a short speech at 8pm . . . something I dread every time as I hate public speaking . . . get a bit shy about it all. After I had the speech behind me I relaxed to enjoy the rest of the evening. . . . and a few Magners Ciders.

With the economic climate the way it is I wasn't expecting to sell much work. I hoped that 2 or 3 pieces would have a red spot on them. I really wanted to sell either "The Kuni Inversion" or "The Calling" as these were the two most challenging pieces to paint and ones that signify an emotional step forward for me. I am particularly proud of them. I suppose I needed some validation that my work was going in the right direction and people would get what I'm about. Both paintings sold along with the other 7 shown above.

After the exhibition many friends, collectors and the gallery team came around to my home for our usually post show party. I'd been cooking and preparing the night before and all of Friday to get it together.
As usual with these events one only gets to have short conversations with people . . . but it's so good to catch up again.

Finally got to bed at 3am . . . a late night for me

The show runs through to the 11th November 2009.

The Black Basque

2009-10-21T11:53:00.003+01:00

Another painting of the beautiful and talented Felicity.
I keep getting drawn back to and inspired by her. I think you'll all see a lot more of Felicity in the future.

They say that beauty is only skin deep . . . and that may be the case for some manufactured beauties . . . but others, like Felicity, are beautiful all the way through. Beauty does transcend the physical.

The Kuni Inversion

2009-09-25T09:06:00.003+01:00

I came across this chap, who was a part of a break-dancing crew
on the South Bank in London, on one of my outings in search of
the perfect figure to paint. He moved so quickly that I wasn’t
sure I could capture his image in a good pose or if it would all
remain a blur of arms and legs.

Luckily this pose materialized and I had my new challenge.
After the emotional success of completing the David O’Mer
painting, “The Calling”, I decided to create a large canvas with
this guy, having a similar impressive physique but a more
dynamic pose.

"The Kuni Inversion", Oil on Linen, 42" x 36"

After many months, I finally put my last paint stroke to canvas on “The Kuni Inversion” this Sunday. The sense of relief and achievement was huge . . . at times through this process I was daunted by the enormity of my undertaking and had to build up courage to attack the second level of painting . . . wonderfully, it all worked to plan . . . after many days/weeks of uncertainty and angst . . . I often think . . . “If it’s too easy . . . the rewards are not as great” . . . I love/need to challenge myself and this one . . . pushed me all the way and the emotional rewards are huge.

Oh the joy of being a painter.

This painting will feature in my Solo Show in London this October

At the Sea of Cortez

2009-09-17T17:15:00.005+01:00

It was a blistering hot summers day (a rare thing in London this year) when I saw this guy sitting on the bank of the Thames, not far from the London Eye. He was playing with a stick (which looked like a primitive fishing rod) at the waters edge.

I found the pose and setting very nostalgic and reminiscent of a character belonging to a Steinbeck or Mark Twain book.

So, not sure if it would work well on canvas, I painted it small . . . 10’ x 10” (At the Sea of Cortez). It was such fun to paint and I was so enamoured with the results that I painted another version, larger, 30” x 30” (called the second one A Steinbeck Moment) . . . I ended up going out and buying Grapes of Wrath . . .with a view to reading it again soon.

These paintings will be in my exhibition at the GX Gallery in October.

Autumn Morning

2009-09-09T09:53:00.014+01:00

I came across this guy lying on the lawn at the Jubilee Gardens near the London Eye . . . it was a cold, sunny, slightly hazy autumn day . . . he looked so at ease and comfortable in his heavy coat.

There is something Nautical about his attire . . it reminds me of my earlier years . . as a student and when I was at sea on an Oil ship around the British Isles and Northern Europe . . great memories.

Autumn Morning, 24" x 48"

I have paintind him from two different angles . . this large one and a small 10" square painting (The Old Brown Shoes) . . . below.

The Old Brown Shoes, 10" x 10"

These have been delivered to the GX Gallery for my exhibition there in October

Solo Show at GX Gallery, London

2009-08-30T10:25:00.032+01:00

"The Calling" (Detail), a painting of David O'Mer from La Clique will be featured in my show*,"Friends, Heroes & Strangers", at the GX Gallery - 24th October - 12th November 2009.

"THE CALLING"
I was lucky enought to come across David O'Mer's My Space page a few years ago and got into conversation with him. We liked each other's work and discussed doing a photoshoot at a future date when he was back in London.

A year later and we arranged to meet at the Hippodrome in London where he was performing with La Clique.
It was mid winter, the heating wasn't working and David offered to do poses from his performance in a bath full of cold water . . . I thought it would be amazing but a bit cruel so went for a dry run instead. We had an amazing few hours setting up shots and doing photography with him.
He was an absolute joy to work with . . . easy going, professional, fun and interested in the processes.

The results were wonderful and fired me up to start painting him immediately . . . I have never worked so intensively on one painting . . . (usually I flit about from canvas to canvas, as the mood takes me, with up to six paintings on the go at any time) but this one was like an addiction and I worked 8 - 12 hours a day, leaving all other painting untouched, until it was completed.

It feels a bit like my Mount Everest . . . and the view is wonderful. lol
Thank you David.

* If you would like an invitation to the Private viewing on Friday the 23rd October 2009 please let me know or contact the gallery directly:
GX Gallery, 43 Denmark Hill, Camberwell, London SE5 8RS.
00 44 (0)207 703 8396, info@gxgallery.com

The Irrepressible Sarah Kershaw

2009-03-27T14:34:00.009Z

Some time ago I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to do a photoshoot of the Music Ensemble "The Irrepressibles".

It has been a departure from my usual work which is very much based in full daylight and with contemporary figures. . . but it has been a blast developing and using these new skills.

This is a painting of Sarah Kershaw, the talented Pianist in the ensemble.

This painting has just been accepted into the Royal Society of Portrait Painters 2009 annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London.

The Red Shoes

2008-08-22T10:28:00.006+01:00

This is the second painting I have done of Felicity Redman, (First one was "The Opera Singer")
I am always enchanted by her singing . . and her performance & costumes always blow me away.

Strangely enough . . before I knew Felicity I painted her with full face in view. This time from a top down angle, showing her movement but not the face . . . her family say that this one captures her essence more fully than the previous one . . . how strange is that?

While speaking with Felicity, she was able to pinpoint the week of the photoshoot and the song she was singing. Seemingly the watch I have painted was new . . and was lost shortly afterwards.

Felicity is someone I can see myself painting again and again over time. A real star and a very beautiful woman.

Felicity is performing at the Edinburgh Festival this month.

Solo Exhibition at GX Gallery, London

2008-06-16T14:54:00.012+01:00

Dante's Disciple
Oil on Linen, 36" x 30"

This painting will be featured in my upcoming show at the GX Gallery,43 Denmark Hill, Camberwell, London SE5. From the 5th July to 17th July 2008.

Watching this guy reading intently on the steps of Trafalgar Square got me thinking about how the image we show the world can be so misleading.

This Urban Warrior was reading the Works of Dante.

The Make Up Artist

2008-04-08T10:22:00.005+01:00

Jamie, of The Irrepressibles, kindly let me go along to their gig at the Source in London, late last year to do some photography before and during make up for their performance.

I was equipped with my camera and new flash unit which is triggered remotely by the camera. So holding this to the side of the subject, I managed to get some amazing photos of the group.

After the photography I got to see them perform their amazing set and later enjoyed a few drinks together. One of the best nights out for a long time.

The first painting completed is of their make up artist on the occasion . . . Wakama Yoshisara.
I have wanted to do a portrait on a panel in this format for ages and Wakama was the perfect subject for this.

I painted this in two main stages . . . the first in Luxor, Egypt (the light was wonderful) at Xmas and the second in my studio in London.

The Seer

2008-03-13T10:20:00.004Z

Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2008

Nigel's oil painting "The Seer" has been selected for the The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2008.

The exhibition runs from the 28th April to the 11th May 2008 at The Mall Galleries, The Mall, London.

The Times suggested on 22 April 2006: "Of the country's two major annual portrait exhibitions, the BP Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery in June might be better known, but the one at the Royal Society is surely the more glittering, as it is to the society that many of the country's powerful institutions go to commission portraits of their leaders."

Me, Me, Me

2008-01-30T10:05:00.002Z

Here's a few firsts for me . . .
A self portrait and one painted in the Chiaroscuro style (Light and Dark)

Me . . . never a subject that grabbed me, always felt there were more characterful or attractive people out there to paint.
Then I got to thinking (Oh how 'Sex in the City' is that expression. lol) some of my favourite artists who have painted the most amazing self portraits . . . i.e. Rembrandt and Odd Nerdrum . . . were no Oil Pintings either. lol.

Chiaroscuro . . . such a contrast to what I normally do and such an exciting journey into the unknown. The excitement of trying to solve the mysteries of painting the dark in sharp contrast to the light. I was addicted from the first minutes of setting down paint.

It all came about because, one morning I had no paintings that I felt like working on but I wanted to paint . . . so Camera, tripod and blackout backdrop in hand I undertook a photoshoot of me. A challenge in it's own right . . but the results got me all fired up and I started straight away on the underpainting . . and Hey Presto . . . months later the painting is finished.

I have now completed 3 paintings in this style . . . not all of me . . . but mostly. lol
I have a series of these to work on in the Summer. A group called the Irrepressibles kindly let me photograph them (All 10 of them) before a live performance and the results lend themselves beautifully to this style.

In the meantime I'm working flat out for my next solo show (GX Gallery, London, 4th July 2008) and I'm back painting in the light again.

Wood Nymph

2008-01-10T11:53:00.000Z

My first blog in 2008 . . . Happy New Year to all.

I have always had a soft spot for things fantastical . . . The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever to name a few. So relished the opportunity to paint this charming Wood Nymph.

I spotted her last Summer, performing near the London Eye and found her mesmerizing. She hid behind a London Plain tree, peeking out at passers by with a twinkle in her eye. When she wasn't moving she was almost invisible against the tree.

For me, looking into the light is an optimistic almost spiritual gesture and so appropriate for this rare creature.

Frank N Furter

2007-10-24T19:41:00.000+01:00

How many of us have heard about the Rocky Horror Show year after year and never been to see it . . . I'm GUILTY!!
I was lucky enough to catch it in the Spring, with the outstanding David Bedella playing Frank N Furter. I was hooked from the opening scene, the whole thing blew me away and I came out of the theatre needing to paint Frank N Furter.
I spoke with David a few weeks later and he kindly agreed to a photo-shoot between sets when next in London.
The photo-shoot was rewarding and great fun. So much so that we ended up going out for drinks after the show.

Elfin

2007-10-11T18:12:00.000+01:00

About a month ago, after visiting the Dali exhibition at the Tate Modern in London, I spotted this elfin waif sitting on a wall waiting for a friend. She looked so fragile, yet exuded confidence.

W.A.A.F.

2007-09-06T09:53:00.000+01:00

After my solo shows, I am inclined to take a while off to recharge the batteries.It's been about two and a half months since I put brush to canvas or panel so I thought I'd pop my first up here for you to see.

I have always loved WW2 uniforms, well that's not actually quite true. I've always loved uniforms in general and formal dress, white shirts, braces, evening dresses etc. So this beautiful WAAF was the one to start with.

The Opera Singer

2007-08-28T14:35:00.000+01:00

Over the past year I have been captivated by the street performers in London.

One of these, with an exceptional talent, is an opera singer called Felicity who dresses in the most wonderfully nostalgic clothing and delights the crowds at Trafalgar Square.

Unusually for me, I got to know her (I don't often see the same people again on the streets of London) and she is as sweet and charming as she looks and sounds. This is not always the case in large cities, where the rat race changes us all. An exceptional person and talent.

Journeyman

2007-07-25T12:24:00.000+01:00

Now and again I come across an amazing character. The ‘Journeyman’
was certainly one of these.
It was a hot sunny summer’s day with the sun almost directly overhead
beating down on him. He looked like he was on a mission to get
somewhere. He had a drink in one hand and a blue plastic bag full of
White Star cider cans in the other. His dreadlocks were in a very
different style than I had seen before, The front of his dreadlocks also
seemed to have been died a lighter colour.
The thing that surprised me most was the grace of movement for
someone of his stature . . . and considering the strength of the Cider
he was drinking.

The White Singlet

2007-07-12T13:58:00.001+01:00

This is another one of my figures viewed from the foot-bridge.

The young man was immaculately turned out in a very individual style with sport labels aplenty. His skin tones were a beautiful contrast to the crisp white cap & singlet and the dramatic black ruc-sac.

As he stood below, watching the world go by, his fingers were playing with the piece of chain hanging from his belt . . . a wonderfully relaxed and natural pose.

Soul Searching

2007-06-28T10:41:00.000+01:00

There has always been something about the robed figure
that fascinated me. Possibly ever since I saw the Exorcist when
I was 16 years old (it was an 18 cert movie). I was intrigued by
the struggle between good and evil and how the priest had to
confront his own demons in his attempts to save Regan.

Here, the title poses questions.

The Blue Beading

2007-06-22T17:36:00.001+01:00

Now and again I find myself viewing life from a different perspective.

While standing on a foot-bridge watching people walking underneath, I noticed this woman as she moved with purpose to some unknown destination.

The light was from the evening sun and I was transfixed by the exaggerated proportions of her shadow . . . it was as if some hidden aspect of her was growing with each step, in readiness for the evening ahead.

The Pilgrim

2007-06-18T11:59:00.000+01:00

The negative aspect of the Hoodie has been well reported, however
this young man was the least threatening person you could imagine
and it got me thinking about how society/the press demonizes
aspects of everyday life.
Historically this kind of hood would have been attached to a
priest's Habit and would have demanded awe, respect and
strangely enough, in some cases, fear.
This young man was wearing a crucifix and for me, crossed the
divide from threatening youth to serene, introspective traveller.

An Urban Solitude

2007-06-13T16:15:00.001+01:00

This is the first painting from my up and coming show at
the GX Gallery in Camberwell, London this July.

I noticed this man sitting up on the fountain at Piccadilly
Circus. He seemed so calm, confident and settled,
unperturbed by the crowds of people around him . . .
true solitude amidst the urban chaos.

The Old Parasol

2007-06-11T10:02:00.000+01:00

The more things change, the more they stay the same . . .

On a hot and sunny day you will eventually come across a parasol,
irrespective of it's form or style. In this case the girl had an old
battered umbrella which did the job and was a wonderful quirky
object for me to paint.

The North Face

2007-06-07T17:15:00.001+01:00

I spotted this guy sitting on the fountain wall in Trafalgar Square,
London. He was extremely thin and was wearing a huge calico
bag with "The North Face" logo on it.
This caught my imagination and raised the question . . . is he a
traveler or a homeless person? . . . relaxing on a day out in a
new city or has he nowhere to go and is struggling to survive?
Whatever the answer, I had to paint him.