"Someone once said that an artist paints to relieve himself of his thoughts and feelings. These comments adequately describe my life in painting. A middle child of three boys. In my very early years it was suspected that I had polio and I was isolated for sometime, left to amuse myself with colouring books and pencils, I soon realised that my efforts drew admiration and at the very least some attention, this experience was the granite block out of which I have carved my existence.
I slept in a bed with a dark brown polished headboard and would often just stare into this heavily varnished surface and see a world of fantasy. My head, even today, is full of imaginings and creation, which is often a curse, leading to sleepless nights when my closed eyes will not stop painting or inventing.
Imagination a curse or a blessing?
Early retirement from the civil service, due to ill health, allowed me the opportunity to paint all day and following a TV appearance on “Watercolour Challenge”, I maximised the publicity on radio and in the press to announce an exhibition of my work, some 30 odd paintings, with great success, this, in turn gave me confidence to exhibit with the BWS (British Watercolour Society). Six works were put on show and all sold within 24 hours, after which the sales just grew and grew.
I have a constant need to demonstrate and investigate the possibilities of extreme colour and mood, although it’s vital to construct something that is recognisable, it is paramount that the impression for the viewer is one of discovery and joy. The colour in the landscape highlighted by the odd break in an almost black sky, is so vivid and uplifting and I have used this vision, highlighted and exaggerated, to give my work the boldness and originality that had for many years passed me by. The conception of my work titled “High Summer Storm over….”, was conceived in 1995 and forms the basis for almost all my paintings."
Contact me on - 01257 369879 or 0772 6599819 - Email me at burgoyneart@gmail.com
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