Insight: A Group 7 Exhibition

Artist Biographies

CATH BROOKE

I studied Fine Art at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Rural and urban landscapes provide the starting point for my prints. I sketch in all weathers and the elements play a large part in defining the spirit of my work. I like to include buildings in my work, to give a sense of history and place; a human connection to the landscape and spaces around us. I am increasingly interested in industrial spaces. Industries that are part of our heritage and buildings that have had a variety of uses from industry to city living. Many of my images are taken from urban landscapes that have been neglected and left to decay. Once stunning buildings that have come to the end of their useful life.

I am also interested in composition and creating a balance between what I have seen and sketched and the natural rhythms of lines and tones across the printed surface. The original image may change as the process of print-making takes over and my concerns turn to mark-making, balance, composition, mood and movement within each piece. I currently mainly use monoprint, collagraph, drypoint and screen printing techniques often combining the techniques together. I usually only print an edition of 4 or 5 prints.

JANE BURGESS

My work is a personal expression of the world around me. I aim to encourage the viewer to take delight in unconventional subject matter and see things with a new eye. I am particularly excited by the effects of light in the landscape – reflections, shadows, and patterns formed on textural surfaces. I make sketches and take photographs for reference. I work in various media. Watercolour particularly appeals to me because of its immediacy of use and the luminosity of its colours, but when working outside ‘alla prima’ I prefer to use oils .They give me better control over colour and enable me to produce small finished paintings in one sitting. I carry out larger oil paintings in the studio.

JANINE DENBY

I take my inspiration from things that interest me in my immediate environment. This can be anything from landscape to old boots or car headlights in a storm. I am primarily a printmaker, however, initial explorations into an idea always use drawing, painting and mixed media.

Recent work reflects my experiences in the midst of the urban night. Strong tonal contrasts, vivid colour and rich texture celebrate the fleeting interplay of light upon architectural forms and rapidly changing reflections flickering elusively on wet ground. These works are inspired by city people and explore the ways in which they move through, interact with or even avoid their immediate environment. My preferred medium is the collagraph, a printmaking process that involves adhering textured materials onto a card base. The resultant block is inked ‘intaglio’ and printed onto damp paper through an etching press. I trained in Graphic Arts at Leeds Metropolitan University then went on to specialise in printmaking and in 2003 obtained a Masters Degree from Bradford University.

KATH TARPY

Local environment provides a never ending source of inspiration from the urban icons and buildings of city life to the moody changeable Yorkshire skies and surrounding Pennine moors. Originally a printmaker Kath over the past 6 years has work solely as a painter using acrylic paint on both canvas and paper. Kath was born in Keighley and studied at both Bradford and Loughborough gaining an Honours degree in Fine art before going on to receive an M.A in fine art at Leeds Metropolitan university.

MARK SOFILAS

Mark Sofilas was born in Western Australia in 1961. After obtaining his diploma in graphic design (specialising in illustration). Mark began his professional career in 1981 as a freelance artist. He has worked in the advertising, publishing and editorial industries in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. Having worked as an illustrator / artist for over 20 years, Mark relocated to the UK in 2008 where he now paints full time from his studio in Leeds. Mark is an exhibiting member of Leeds Fine Artists and his work is shown & sold in galleries throughout Yorkshire & the North of England. He has had successful joint & solo exhibitions with The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle, The Harrison Lord Gallery, Brighouse & Look Gallery at Helmsley to name a few.

“I am a self- taught painter. My work is inspired by the idiosyncrasies of the northern English and Scottish landscape and I aim to bring to my painting the fresh perspective of someone who originates from a very different environment. I enjoy exploring textures, colour and the intrinsic geometry of the natural world. I work primarily in oils on canvas or on wood; my use of colour is bold, direct and challenges the viewer to consider familiar landscapes in a different way.”

PAULINE MEADE

I studied art, design and printmaking at Huddersfield Technical College and Leeds Metropolitan University, (BA Hons. 1st 1994). Printmaking remains the main focus of my artwork and inspiration is from landscape, natural environment, and architectural features in the landscape. Starting from drawings and watercolour paintings made on location, I use these in my studio to develop hand made prints, mainly multicoloured linoprints, and monochrome etchings, in small limited editions. Subject matter ranges from detail of plants, to standing stones, castles and temples, and the wider land or seascape. Recent work is also influenced by Norse mythology and its view of the natural world.

PETER ELLIS

Peter’s work is intuitive, it just ‘happens’ and develops as he paints but the influences, which he claims are unconscious, appear to come from wide open landscapes: impressions absorbed from years of walking in the Yorkshire Dales in all weathers. The images grow on the canvas and change as they progress towards a satisfactory balance of shape, line and colour culminating in strong statements suggesting powerful, beautiful natural form. Peter Ellis attended Morley Grammar School and then studied at The School of Art, Batley for four years. He has always painted since student days and has exhibited widely over a long period of years. Peter’s current studio is a purpose built extension to his home.

SUE ATKINSON

Sue Atkinson paints in her studio in Wakefield and on the beach at Runswick Bay. She is a member of Leeds Fine Artists and the Fylingdales Group of Artists. Her achievements include being South Yorkshire Artist of the Year, winning the Manchester Academy Small Picture Award and joint first prize at the Hull Ferens Open Exhibition. She has also won awards in the Discerning Eye Exhibition, London, the Laing Landscape Prize, and at the Royal Waltercolour Society Open Exhibition. In London Sue has shown at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the New English Art Club, the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolour, the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the Singer and Friedlander Sunday Times Watercolour Competition.

“I like to paint people and I like to paint landscapes. Even better, a combination. Painting on site is quickest and most exciting. Painting in the studio allows the imagination more rein. So its a win win situation! Both are very rewarding. Often I start a painting on site and continue in the studio. All in all, the whole process is an adventure. I’m never sure at the beginning what will appear by the end. And if the picture contains that extra little dash of magic, then I’m happy.”