'After I was kindly offered a solo exhibition at Northern lights in 2019 I had the exciting possibility of another exhibition two years later, and now finally with the summer arriving and the galleries reopening, so has this new exhibition of paintings.
There will be a number of large Panoramas including one of my favourite views of Catbells overlooking Keswick and a chance to revisit some of my best loved Fells including Coniston, Bowfell, Helvellyn and High Street.
“Views such as Great Gable in Winter or Winter on Swirl How were a pleasure to paint, bringing back little moments of joy from a decade ago, and there are plenty of old friends included such as the Langdale Pikes and the mountain which, many years ago when I saw it as a faded print in an old library book of W.A. Poucher's scholarly mountain photographs made me want to be a painter: Helvellyn and specifically Striding Edge”.
I have also had chance to use neglected images I have had waiting patiently and uncomplainingly for many years but never had time to execute as works. Views such as Great Gable in Winter or Winter on Swirl How were a pleasure to paint, bringing back little moments of joy from a decade ago, and there are plenty of old friends included such as the Langdale Pikes and the mountain which, many years ago when I saw it as a faded print in an old library book of W.A. Poucher's scholarly mountain photographs made me want to be a painter: Helvellyn and specifically Striding Edge.
I hope visitors will enjoy this little exhibition, it covers many years of pleasant wandering on the fells, and several of the small images (such as Rydal and Loughrigg and little Loughrigg paintings) are from little walks with my four year old daughter in tow, or as often as not; in arms.
I am especially happy with the centrepiece view of Catbells. Like many small fells it encapsulates the essence of Lakeland, its little Crags, ling, sweet bracken and what Coleridge called 'sinuous rills' of water, and like many expeditions was saved at the last moment from miserable failure by the fleeting, illusive Lakeland light whose rarity and fickleness makes photographing and painting the Lake District such a frustrating and rewarding experience.’
- Simon Whitfield
Paintings in Exhibition:
