this is a body of work which has its roots in my first visit to the west coast of Ireland in 1995. the result is a project which has taken its own momentum and has developed organically over time. my paintings to date are of three areas, the coast of county mayo in ireland, the lake district and holy island in northumberland. these are all places in which i have been inspired by the dynamic between light and land, or perhaps between heaven and earth.
the spirit and history of these places seem to speak through the weather and the landscape. Sometimes a feeling of the spiritual history of a place can be heard between the song of the weather and the dance of light on landscape, striking a strangely familiar chord somewhere in the depths, perhaps, of forgotten lives.
my work reflects a search for the spiritual in what we are and where we are. our mind is constantly influenced by our environment and the way we perceive our environment depends on our state of mind. i am interested in this subtle interchange and use painting to reflect on the nature and state of the mind.
in my inner work, my personal development, i strive for the space to consider decisions, clarity of mind and the licence to express my self truly and be as honest and as bold as nature. to me, my paintings reflect my struggle to attain this kind of spacious and confident simplicity. the qualities i endeavour to paint in my landscapes parallel my own search for inner space and light and ‘that which is bigger than all of us’.
there is a wholesome feeling that goes with bringing the space and freedom of expression that exists in the wild open landscape, into the confines of the home’s four walls and into the crowded town and busy family life. Perhaps a window is created through which the viewer can access some of their own inner space.
Solo exhibitions
Innerlandscapes; York College 20th march to 9th april 2006
Innerlandscapes; King's Manor, York, 10th april to 19th may 2006
Paintings and Prints; The Blake Head Bookshop and Cafe gallery, York, July 2008
Secluded Spaces; The Viridian Gallery, Keswick, Cumbria, July/August 2009
Joint Exhibitions
Damian Shirt and Friends; joint exhibition with Rory Motion at The Norman Rae Gallery, University of York, January 19th - February 5th 2009
Rory Motion and Hannah West: Pastels and Paintings, York Hospital, 12th Ferbuary - March 25th 2009
York Open Studios 2010: Fri 16th April - Sun 18th April: Bootham School, York
Land, City and Memory: with Rosie Bramley, Jo Bramley, Pamela Knight and Tim Morrison at The Art Space, York, May 30th - June 22nd 2010
landscape, the ever patient arena,
host to the expression of nature’s emotion.
an arena of spacious and confident simplicity,
in which any soft and gentle light
or any raging storm,
can play out its dynamics,
be heard,
be appreciated,
be accepted,
and be allowed to pass through.