THOMAS JAMES OLDHAM

I am fascinated by the beauty and power of nature. I try to capture that atmosphere through colour, light and texture.  The Solway coast is only a mile from home, with its banks of grassy dunes and large changeable skies, drawing me into its immense spaces.

I paint out en plein air with oils on board or else head out with a sketchbook and some gouache to work on studies of colour, light and form. Back in the studio away from the strong coastal winds, I work up these initial studies on a larger scale from the sketches and memory, normally in acrylic. I find that this process gives me expressive freedom in colour and mark making, and allows me to bring more emotion to the work.