Philip Barraclough

“it’s a matter of fine lines”

 

Philip Barraclough is a North Yorkshire artist- who uses fine pencil lines as the basis for images of the human form and landscapes, which can often take on a life and rhythm of their own. He uses other media such as charcoal, ink, watercolour and collage sparingly.

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Photographs are generally the starting point of his work and two images one of a woman in profile and a second of the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland have stirred his imagination for several years and a lot of his work is a variation on these two themes. Another inspiration is the mountain landscapes of northern England where he can often be found rough camping (with complete consideration for all aspects of nature– I might add)

 

He is self taught if an O level in art doesn’t count and a few lessons while taking A levels. He exhibited infrequently in London in the 1990s including at the Mall Galleries.

 

Career moves took him away from art for many years – but since then he has been able to work from home – and has virtually become a full time artist by default.

 

His artistic heroes are the English New Romantics – Paul Nash, Eric Ravilious, John Piper and David Jones.

 

Stylistically his work is closest to that of David Jones – although they share very different views on the world.

 

Of modern artists he is inspired by another Yorkshire born artist Norman Ackroyd.

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He sees much of modern art as being too simple – the universe is vastly complicated.