Artist and educator Keith Parkinson’s latest exhibition ‘Environments’ started with an OS map dated 1952 of the Bowland Forest. It simply asked for a painting of the Hen Harrier, symbol of the Bowland Forest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
In a departure from his usual work due to personal circumstances, this latest exhibition at Trinity’s Hub Gallery is also a response to Keith’s love of nature, especially birds, and fascination by maps.
He said: “All these paintings have meaning for me, both in terms of my links and fondness for the places, and my particular interest in the creatures represented. Some are birds I’ve had a long affection for, others that have made for especially exciting spots.”
The aim of his work is to represent a sense of people and place through landscape, portrait and abstract drawing and painting, and, from time to time, sculpture. He uses visual starting points, mathematical patterns and often poetry, to convey a more philosophical or spiritual sense in the way people and society interact with each other and the place.
Having run numerous workshops for the AONB over the years, along with many other community bodies and schools since leaving teaching, Keith has just got back to running classes again following a hiatus, with a series of charcoal drawing classes here at Trinity.
Speaking of his passion for art, Keith said: “There’s a particular moment of excitement, and sometimes trepidation, as I stand in front of my canvas, brush loaded and poised for that first mark. It might be in my studio, on a beach or up in the hills, that frisson is always there and manifests itself in the hover – the hanging over the canvas, bobbing the brush tip up and down like a snooker player lining up a shot – then the dart and sweep of the first marks.”
The exhibition will run until May 29th . The gallery will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10am to 4pm.
For more information visit www.thekpgallery.com or email .
