Ben Brotherton graduated from
Canterbury with a 1st class BA in Fine Arts in 2002
and an MA in painting in 2004.
After 3 years as artist in residence at The King’s School, Canterbury,
Ben moved with his family to south-west France where he has
established the arts school Le Terrain Vallonné.
Working directly from his subject, Ben’s
carefully considered paintings
radiate a tranquility and calmness. Ben explains 'Painting from nature may be my attempt to understand the world;
it allows me the opportunity to engage with its constituents. From
the infinite chaos of experience a painting might be distilled.’
Inspired by Cézanne, Chardin, Corot, Matisse
and Bomberg, his paintings
are about the painted surface, space and
light. 'I
believe Bomberg’s notion of “the spirit
in the mass” articulates the tension between the energy invested
into the painting by the artist, and the energy resonating from
the motif. It is a desire to understand the subject and the
subsequent painting.’
Above all Ben's paintings
capture the beauty
and character of his surroundings
and, following a
highly successful solo show in 2008,
are
a testament to how his work is thriving under French skies.
Ben
has exhibited in London with The Royal Society of Oil Painters and
Royal Society of British Artists, was
short listed for the Winsor and Newton Young Artist in 2006 and
shows work regularly with Grandy Art.
The next exhibition will take place from
14th - 18th September 2010 at the Lennox Gallery, London. |
