Always a favourite with collectors, Peter Wileman's ability to paint fully abstract canvases and move through to semi abstract and also figurative makes his work appealing to many types of buyers. For this exhibition Peter has revisted some locations on the East Anglian coast he has been visited for years and also a few new discoveries. Covehithe Beach is well known locally but not often painted, Peter has included a couple of quite different views in the exhibition incuding 'Morning Air Covehithe'. Also included is couple of works of Woodbridge Tide Mill its such a beautiful location and I am delighted he has paintied this atmospheric work, capturing the rising sun highlighting the river Deben and the mud ready ground the unwary! As well as paintings of Aldeburgh, Walberswick, Southwold, Kessingland and Cromer, Peter had travelled from Oban to Venice with London in between. A great selection of places, some figurative and some far more abstract.
In his own words he describes this body of work:
"The Memory Remains reflects looking back fondly over the last couple of years and putting down on canvas both in line and colour almost as a diary, recollections of my favourite places. For me, painting is as much a part of the day as eating and sleeping - in fact, it's more important than that, more like breathing! From an early morning walk to the last frenzied flourish of brushes before finishing for the day I am totally absorbed in my work. My painting is impulsive, hovering on the edge of romantic tradition, with moments of semi abstraction weaving their presence into my work, coupled with an exaggerated burst of energetic light I try to purvey a sense of re-birth. Painting is like playing chess, don't sit back and give up because you find yourself in 'check'. Sit back, take stock and gather your thoughts before working out your next move. Be prepared and open to changing your original ideas of where you want your painting to go in other words, follow your instincts. To sum up, I am drawn to the light like a moth to the flame, and although I have tried to express myself through my work over the years in many forms and styles, my path has led me inexorably to try and grasp that elusive quality of light, the passing of a day, the birth of a new one, the struggle for 'perfection'."
Peter Wileman is the former President and Fellow of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI), a Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA), the East Anglian Group of Marine Artists (EAGMA) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He has worked in the field of art and design for over forty years and his style is bold and vigorous, both in the use of colour and handling of paint, as he explores the effect of light on his subject. Seeking atmosphere through light and colour, he works in varying degrees of abstraction. Peter has won many awards for his paintings including: The Frank Herring Award in 2000, The Cornelissen & Son Award in 2003, The Clerk Fowle gold medal in 2006, The DAS Prize in 2007 , The Charles Pears Award and The Stanley Grimm Prize in 2010 and The Dartington Crystal Chalice in 2012.
June 22, 2022
