Artists of the Month: July 2024 – Contemporary Artists
This month we have selected 5 contemporary artists for our Artist of the Month of July 2024. From the impressionist still lifes to colourful digital photography there is something for all tastes. Art2Arts the first choice gallery to buy art. From a wide selection of artworks by our amazing contemporary artists
Hayley Bowen
Artists Statement: “ I can’t imagine my life without making art as it defined me from the very beginning. When things get tough, art is always there for me, and by creating art I can give love and create joy. Not only to the people I love, but even to people I’ve never met before, on the other side of the world “.
Artist and illustrator, living, painting, and drawing in Kingston Upon Thames, South West London. I studied art after leaving a state-funded Grammar school in Wales, Dyfed College of Art, and then Cambridge College of Art. So it’s not an option I took up later for fun. I often had to make difficult employment choices, having to bring up both of my children alone, meaning a secure and financially stable career is something I haven’t ever experienced in my life. The stability I have now is that they have families and homes of their own, which allows me to work more to make more art.
About my work
I paint much of my artwork to commission, customers and collectors very often returning, sometimes after many years. Commissions are often portraits or references to events, people, pets and places. Commercially I often make paintings and drawings for art collectors with colours or ideas in mind that may evoke the senses. A beautiful plant that epitomises the beauty of nature, a landscape, something cheerful, escapist, or calming. I love wild animals, and they are often depicted in my artworks.
On a more self-expressive level I paint many surreal, metaphysical, esoteric works. These reflect my personal interest in understanding the meaning of our existence here on planet earth. Where humanity has made art since the dawn of creation – I will be carrying on in that tradition. Documenting the experiences of life via my art practice, and helping others to too.
Alex Kelly
Artists Statement: “The work of an artist, while not much different to other kinds of work on one level, can, at its greatest, transcend mundane ‘work’. Through perseverance and skill, be a source of curiosity and joy for oneself and others”.
I primarily employ the alla prima technique and work directly from life. This approach presents an exciting opportunity for a painter to enhance their skills and refine their perception. The skill of painting to me is about ‘learning to see’. This is a process of cultivating heightened sensitivity and penetrating discernment. It necessitates a prompt and direct response to the subject, requiring the interpretation of new visual challenges into the language of paint.
I draw inspiration from a wide range of subjects. My creative process begins by cultivating a sensitivity to the inherent beauty found in direct experiences. By beauty, I refer to anything that evokes emotion, sparks inspiration, provokes curiosity, or simply captures my interest and warrants further exploration.
“To me, technique should be unlimited… [with] constant growth in ability and understanding. It must never be mere virtuosity but an endless accumulation of qualities and wisdom… First comes the initial idea for a work – what the artist desires to portray, to bring into concrete manifestation. In order to fulfil this task, he must begin to build, to organise.”
Nicolai Fechin
Education and Experience
Alex Kelly received a Fine Art BA with honours from Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) in 1993. He has also trained and worked as a graphic designer for over 20 years and has a HNC (Distinction) in Graphic Design from New College Nottingham (UK). He has also had various studio practices and art related teaching positions with schools and colleges before devoting himself full-time to painting. His work is in many private collections around the world. He currently lives and works in Birmingham, UK.
Peter Watson
Artists Statement: “I capture light; it is my raw material, my inspiration, my energy”.
My love of art started a long time ago; to be precise it was on my thirteenth birthday. I remember the occasion well because it was on that day that I was given a camera. At the time I was in love with art and would happily spend hours drawing and painting. I found it fascinating that painting and photography were in many ways similar but at the same time so very different. Both were time consuming but in the end it was photography that won the day.
I began to develop and print my own black and white photographs in an improvised darkroom which, to my elation, actually sold in a local gallery. This was all the encouragement I needed. I went on to study photography and graphic design and in 1993 obtained a diploma in photography from the New York Institute of Photography.
Having spent many years as a photographer I have now pursued my interest in other forms of art. I am now creating abstract images which I produce as limited edition original prints.
Sally Maltby
Artists Statement: “I continually wonder at real natural forms and hope to inspire a similar sense of wonder in others through my work”.
I attended art schools in Surrey and London and have an MA in digital design from Portsmouth University. At the Central school in London, I was lucky to win the RSA ‘Souvenirs’ travelling bursary. This I used to travel to the USA and Mexico and have been back many times.
Although I have sold several oil paintings, I much prefer to work in watercolour. It seems to me to be the most ecological of the various mediums. I am also very interested in digital design and the use of photography as basically another medium of expression.
Plants and flowers and the way they grow remain a huge inspiration. I moved to the Jurassic Coast some years ago and have also been impressed by the Geological forms of the coast and the forms of the countryside around.
Having taken part in many group exhibitions, as well as 2 personal ones. I have also had many exhibitions in London and the countryside.
Robert Pinchin
Meet our final contemporary artists selection, Robert Pinchin. Robert is a North Yorkshire based contemporary artist who was born with the natural ability to draw. He studied Art and Design at York college and a BA Hons in Graphic Design and Illustration at York University.
The foundation course and the degree gave him the confidence to put his art out there for public consumption, and it became clear that he had the ability to deliver what people want to put on their walls and enjoy.
During his degree study, he started to create art works for public display and engaged in a number of exhibitions. These included the York art fair and an annual exhibition that takes place in Spitalfields market in London. Both were successful, and the variety of styles that he was able to deliver was noticed.
Since then he has formed successful liaisons with galleries, exhibiting and selling his work. Many of his paintings generate further commissions, which include portraits of animals and people. I like to bring something just a little bit different to each painting, a unique touch that brings the subject to life. Robert works from his studio at home.
We hope you enjoyed our contemporary artists selected this month.
