Limited Edition Prints - Coming Soon!

Big news! Now that the children have gone back to school, it is full steam ahead for my new collection of limited edition prints. These will be on Somerset Enhanced Velvet 330gsm 100% cotton rag paper, with archival inks. Each one will be signed and numbered with a hand-finished element. Please join my mailing list to receive updates about the full collection.

Glyndebourne - Sell Out

My exhibition with Gallery94 at Glyndebourne, Ritual and Repetitions, was a huge success. Not only did it sell out but it did so within 24 hours of opening! Here are some images of the work.

Winter Collection 2020

I've been working on this Winter Collection, since the end of August. I wanted to create a body of work that was joyful and free but also bold and spontaneous. Over the last few months, I spent a lot of time exploring our local area, walking up the hill, just minutes from our home, playing in the woods there with the kids and occasionally meeting up with friends, sitting on camping chairs and having quiet conversations, watching the beautifully evolving sunset and moon rise and the dialogue between land and sea. Some days, as a family, we would jump in the car and have a little drive (not me - I can't drive; I'd get too distracted by the view) to explore pastures new and to make new memories. As we all know, being in nature is a healer and boosts our mood and seeing the horizon certainly does it for me!

With this new collection,I want viewers to feel immediately uplifted, taking them to a place with exhilarating yet calming energy, bringing their own inner experience to the picture and counting their everyday blessings. Somewhere that they have a hidden connection with and that makes them smile.

I really hope these paintings bring you joy. Please remember that if you are local, I offer free delivery and can refund any shipping costs. The same goes if you are planning a trip to Brighton at some point and would like to collect.

Guest on Art Juice

I had a brilliant time as a guest on the Art Juice website with Alice Sheridan and Louise Fletcher. Art Juice is a podcast for artists, aspiring creatives, and art lovers. 

If you would like a listen, click here

Prints Now Available from King & McGaw

I am over the moon to be collaborating with King & McGaw to bring you beautiful, high quality prints of my work in handmade frames.  King & McGaw began life in 1982 as artist/silkscreen printers working with a small second-hand screen press in a basement flat in central Brighton. Today (still in East Sussex)  they have moved along the coast to Newhaven and now operate from 30,000 square feet of workshops and offices with brilliant  printers, framers, designers, customer service, accounts and admin teams. They still make everything by hand and focus on creating beautiful products for many of the world's greatest museums, galleries and artists and through their retail web site. Their ethos remains exactly the same as when they started years ago... to bring aspiring, beautiful, affordable art to everyone.

Click the image below to see the full collection.

Selected for the Society of Women Artists' 159th Annual Open Exhibition

My contemporary watercolour, Chapters, has been selected for the Society of Women Artists’ 159th Annual Open Exhibition. The painting is 140 miniature, watercolour studies with expressive mark-making through carbon paper. This work takes you on a journey with your eye darting from chapter to chapter. The simple line giving the viewer just a hint of the journey.  My friend and excellent artist, Steve Geliot’s description of the work: “Beautiful. I love the economic use of line and colour to say so much. It is beautifully calm and unfussy”

The Society of Women Artists (SWA) is a British art body and registered charity, and has had a unique history dedicated to promoting art by women. It was founded as the Society of Female Artists (SFA) in about 1855, offering women artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their works which they had otherwise been denied. Annual exhibitions have been held in London since 1857. The Society enjoys royal patronage from HRH Princess Michael of Kent.

To find out more about the exhibition, click here.

Summer Collection

Summer Collection - Spontaneous expressive and bold landscapes

This year, I had a huge confidence boost, with my work winning not one but two prizes: the John Purcell Paper Prize for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and the Derwent Art Prize (People’s Choice).  With these prizes, I received lots of positive comments and fantastic PR about my paintings.  I was buoyant, as I started this new collection with ease.  With this confidence came bold, expressive brushwork and self assured joy, laying down exciting colours and lines.  

This new summer collection certainly packs a punch.  I have introduced new fluorescent colours, which in the past I have shied away from.  They help with moving the viewer’s eye around the canvas, almost making it glow.  As ever, the Sussex coastline and South Downs are my continuous inspiration.  I hope that the viewer is also taken to their special place. 

I started with 27 canvasses, working between them at the same time.  I do this because it keeps me loose and free to experiment, knowing that not all of the canvasses will make the final collection and meaning that I don’t become too tight or controlled.  When I am in the moment, I can enjoy the wet paint and form and not think too much about producing a finished painting.  18 made the final cut!

There is no way of not mentioning the current situation.  Over the months of lockdown, painting was a great escape, immersing myself within these paintings, with impulsive and expressive movements.  I was worried that they might turn out a little depressing but now, when I stand back and take them in, they are a pure joy.  

I am extremely proud of this collection.  My only disappointment is that they will never all be viewed together in a large, white gallery, with a fabulous Private View where I could meet and chat to you all.  I hope that you have enjoyed watching my journey on social media over the last few months.  I also hope this work speaks to you and conjures up memories of your own experiences but, simply put, this is what emerged from me and I love it!

Artist Support Pledge

Please see below details of the Artist Support Pledge from Matthew Burrows:

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support and gallery work. Exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress I have instigated the ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE #artistsupportpledge

The concept is a simple one. Artists post images of their work, on Instagram which they are willing to sell for no more than £200 each (not including shipping). Anyone can buy the work. Every time an artist reaches £1000 of sales, they pledge to spend £200 on another artist/s work. To make a pledge, post your work with the #artistsupportpledge and follow the # to see everyone else's work. Keep updated on new opportunities and announcements @artistsupportpledge Repost and tell your friends, colleagues and collectors. Let generosity be infectious.

#supportartists #covid19 #coronavirus #livegenerously 

ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE was set up by myself on the 16th March 2020 in response to the COVID19 pandemic. Since I posted my first image and wrote those fateful words 'I pledge' it has become a global movement towards a generous culture and economy in support of artists and makers.

The project uses social media platform Instagram, which is a popular platform for artists to post images and share their work. Artists and makers can post their images using #artistsupportpledge giving details of their works and price (no more than £200 or equivelent). If people are interested in buying, they message (DM) the artist. Anyone can buy the work and artists don't need permission to join. 

Every time an artist reaches £1,000 of sales, they pledge to buy £200 of work from other artist(s). I’m encouraging donations too, made to particular concerns such as @_hopsitalrooms

To see the work that I am pledging, please click here.

For more info about the Artist Support Pledge please see Matthrew’s website here.