The collections of work has been inspired, over the last 10 years, by the themes of Love, Loss and the road travelled, often expressing the way our lives so often take circular routes, whether for positive or negative reasons. These themes, both emotive and circular, can evoke a feeling of completeness, wholeness and balance as well as frustration at repeated patterns of emotion and behaviour. As in life, we can feel at times that we have well rounded personalities and lives, in addition we can have periods where we repeat circular patterns of behaviour, often leading us to wonder on the similarity of outcomes in the things that we do. I purposely set out to create these paintings in different emotional states, to explore how much this effects what appears on the canvas. This meant at times not painting when I really felt the urge and at other times painting when it was the last thing on my mind. For myself it is quite striking the effect that this has not only on the end result but also on the experience of creating the work. This collection is an ongoing work with several new pieces in production at any one time.

I work largely in acrylic paint on canvas, although I also mix medias and also create work in water colour, charcoal and pencil as well as some sculpting work. My work is heavily textured, as is life, I layer paint to move the paintsings out of the two dimensional form. The paint is applied in straight or curved lines in strong positive stokes using bold colours to underpin the general theme or context of the piece.

All my paintings originate from words before progressing to initial sketches through to the final work. These words are an integral part of the painting and are generally found written around the edge of the box canvas. As with the paintings it is inteesting to hear the perceptions different viewers take from these words. Some viewers only find the words after having viewed the piece several times whereas some are drawn to the paintings because of the words.

Although I see that adding the words can detract from viewers personal experience of what a painting can bring to them, I feel in general these words add to the overall experience.

As well as the work produced from my own experiences, I have completed commissioned pieces that depict certain memories or emotions. These are particularly rewarding to paint as they have a personal connection to, and resonance with, the person who has commissioned the work. Many of the pieces viewable on this site are available as A1, A2 and A3 prints. There will be an online ordering system up and running very soon, in the meantime please email me if you are interested in purchasing prints and I will send you the details.

A bit about me.

I originally come from Kent, having grown up on the Isle of Sheppey, I moved to the Medway Towns (most notable for Charles Dickens, Billy Childish and The James Taylor Quartet) to attend Rochester Art College, where I subsequently lived for 20 years before moving to Reading in 2003. My painting really kicked off when I moved to Reading as a form of catharsis, I have always been a creative person and have used this to express and release what’s often going on inside. It is always interesting to me that expressing emotions through painting, writing or music is often easier than verbalising them in conversation. I have now found my way back to the sea and am living and breathing in Brighton.

I have worked as a graphic designer for the last 22 years in a range of roles across corporate, advertising, web, film and marketing support.

As well as art and design I have spent many years as a musician and song writer, which probably explains why i like to use words in my paintings.

If you want to know any more please do not hesitate to email me at mtwrangham [at] gmail [dot] com

Love, peace and happiness.

Mark Wrangham