Ian Hargreaves

Exhibiting with us for the first time, Ian paints the subjects that grab his attention at the time whether it is the local area or sunny climes. He paints in a distinctive realistic style with strong colours and careful observation and this year is aiming to for a 'looser feel' to his paintings.

Artist Details: Born in 1957, Ian studied Technical Graphics at Bournemouth Art College and after a Bohemian life in the early eighties, painting portraits to earn his keep in London and Palermo, he moved to German in 1985 to paint and raise a family. He has now returned to the South, settlling in Poole and reaquainting himself with the British landscape. He is a member of The International Guild of Realism and had works in private and corporate collections worldwide.

"Having lived for so many years abroad, I developed a love affair with southern climes, especially Italy. This had a huge effect on my painting. My regular trips down south revealed a world full of light and shade which is still a great motivator, even with our variable British weather. An otherwise plain facade can be brought to life with a ray of sunshine. Different subjects interest me, whether it be figures on the beach, a view of the Thames, or an alleyway in Venice. I tend to work mainly in acrylics which allows me to 'get on with it'.

At the moment I am concentrating on large scale water reflections. What interests me is the horizontal over vertical. In other words the vertical reflections of trees etc. overlaid with leaves, twigs etc., which are floating horizontaly on the surface. They also allow me to loosen up technicaly, which I hope to translate to my other subjects."
Ian Hargreaves