We are delighted to welcome Kevin Southgate back to the NLG exhibition space for his second solo exhibition, ‘The Domain of the Hardy’. Kevin Southgate is a contemporary artist best known for his evocative landscapes drawn from nature during frequent visits to the Lake District. His work is inspired by the expressionistic working methods of Kurt Schwitters, Russell Mills and Kurt Jackson.

Kevin has visited the Lakes for over 20 years, continually seeking to capture the dramatic, ever changing nature of our beautiful landscape with his paintbrush. In this outstanding collection of work, Kevin has experimented with a variety of techniques and textures, using a rich palette of colour that beautifully captures the Lake District in all it’s seasons.

Beginning with a sketch, Kevin builds layers of colour and texture onto his canvases, scraping back layers and adding more until he achieves his desired effect. Some pieces in the collection feature collage elements, where Kevin has used plaster and other materials to create stunning 3D images of local landscapes and landmarks.

Artist Statement:

“For some twenty years I’ve visited the Lakes and the real owners have stared down at me from high up on the fell as I wander through their harsh land, trying to capture scenes and views with a camera or a paint brush, sometime it works, but  more often than not it doesn’t, but that’s art.

In this current exhibition you can see different techniques I use in my attempt to express my view of this hard but beautiful place where those determined to reach the top endure all weathers.”