Julian Mason Exhibition 2023

7 - 22 O C TO B E R 2023

Julian Mason A solo exhibition of oil paintings

We have been working with Julian Mason since 2009 and we really couldn’t be more delighted to finally launch Julian’s first one man show here. We are very proud to be the temporary custodians of this superb collection of 43 paintings and we are sure that this extraordinary landscape artist will astonish you not only with his amazing skill but also his dedication and commitment to his work demonstrated by the remarkable efforts to which he is willing to go to in order to produce a painting.

Shunning the conventional artist’s studio, Julian has established himself as one of the country’s leading and most inspirational ‘plein air’ artists finding the freedom of the landscape liberating and quite simply exciting. He revels in its beauty, and the frequently challenging lengths he goes to are more than justified by what he then manages to achieve. Many of Julian’s ‘action shots’ feature throughout this catalogue illustrating his unique painting process and the challenges he faces.

Painting in oils on canvas in all seasons and weathers, Julian’s keen eye and expert application combine to produce work of both depth and integrity conveying the enigmatic power and majestic beauty of the Lake District. His application of colour and integral light bring the view alive and one can imagine being there just as Julian was, seeing what he saw in that moment in time.

Born in 1971 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Julian still lives in Staffordshire with his wife Tess and two daughters. Julian particularly loves to paint the drama of the Lake District but also paints Scotland, the Peak District and Cornwall. As one of our leading landscape artists, Julian still considers his successful career an absolute privilege and feels he is very fortunate to have a job that he truly loves. We are thrilled to be part of his journey and are delighted to welcome you to the first Julian Mason exhibition at Beckstones.

My love of the landscape began when I was taken on family camping holidays. For me, every trip to Scotland, Cornwall or the Lake District was more of an adventure than a holiday and I spent long hours wandering in and marvelling at the epic landscapes that surrounded me. The urge to capture and get lost in both the extraordinary and simple beauty so unique to the Great British countryside is the driving force behind my work. It has certainly proved to be challenging over the years. Painting en plein air, though it allows me to recreate the genuine beauty of the scenery, means fighting against the changing light, unrelenting bugs, and the renowned unpredictability of British weather. It’s all worth it for the end result. A regular buyer who was house bound once told me that the paintings enabled him to ‘go for a walk through the landscape’. This is the kind of reaction I have always been endeavouring to evoke from the viewer. I work to try and inspire the same love for the landscape that I developed all those years ago. I use oils, not only for their resilience to all types of weather but for their vibrancy and ability to properly translate my wonder and the epic world around me to the canvas.

My choice of where to paint in the Lakes is an ongoing study. It might be a place that I spotted on a previous painting or walking trip. I’ll aim to stay in that area for a week or two so I give myself the time to really immerse myself in the place. This means that once I’ve committed to being somewhere I have to deal with whatever the weather throws at me.

So a typical painting day for me starts the night before when I’ll take a look at the local weather forecast and that will determine the area and time of day I’ll choose to paint. My kit is made up of up to 6 canvasses of various sizes, waterproofs, different clothing for varying weather conditions (including hat), oil paints, brushes, water and kitchen roll all stored in my easel along with my walkstool, first aid kit, suntan cream, insect repellent, maps, a torch and food.

I’ve also invested in a painting umbrella so I can stay out longer in rainy and windy conditions. Altogether the weight is pretty substantial so I try to keep fit in order to be able to carry it for long distances.

I’ll aim for the place where I think would be a good area but more often than not I’ll find somewhere else depending on what the weather and lighting conditions give me that day. Once I’ve found a good spot I’ll spend some time working out the best view compositionally, not just for that moment but envisaging what it could look like later in the day and this will often affect the size of canvas I’ll choose. Then I’ll create a small studio around me setting out my kit and often eat and drink something so I can then concentrate on getting on with the painting. I’ll take a deep breath and begin to ‘block in’ as much of the canvas as I can as quickly as possible, trying to make order out of chaos.

As the day goes on, I’m constantly picking and choosing what to put on the canvas, determining how the movement of the wind and clouds affects the way the light is falling on the scene. It’s an ever-changing landscape which gives me a sense of both joy and frustration and makes no allowance for complacency.

Hours can pass in this way until the weather or the light affects my ability to carry on. Then I’ll pack up my kit and head back or sit out a shower before I start again.

Painting in the Lake District is a very different experience to painting in the Scottish Highlands or by the sea. Unlike these environments, the Lake District is not just an area of natural beauty but a place where people live, visit and work. It’s surprising what you find, great mountain views look all the more splendid towering above lines of washing, farm buildings and livestock within the fields and gardens below. I suppose that’s what the Lake District is all about for me, a majestic ‘lived in’ landscape with all its manifold contrasts.

One moment I can be painting in complete solitude with only the local wildlife around me, the next, surrounded by fellow landscape enthusiasts, walkers and local inhabitants. One day I can be painting a beautifully foreboding mountain range in high winds and rain, the next, wildflowers by a quiet beck in idyllic sunlight. I can spend a week painting in the Langdales or Wasdale and the view will look completely different from one day to the next.

This exhibition is the culmination of two years visiting and working in this most beautiful of places, meeting some fantastic people from farmers, fellow visitors and local residents, all sharing a love of the Lake District landscape.

1. Sunrise on Wastwater 71 x 92 cm

2. Ullswater narcissi 24 x 48 cm

3. Dusk at Rosthwaite 24 x 24 cm

4. Late spring in Rannerdale 70 x 70 cm

5. Greenburn Beck, Little Langdale 60 x 60 cm

6. Above Fell Foot Bridge, Little Langdale 60 x 60 cm

7. Light to moderate winds on Ullswater 40 x 100 cm

9. Daffodils at Matterdale End 24 x 24 cm

8. Wandering near Nether Wasdale 30 x 30 cm

10. Pillar revealed, Fleetwith Pike, Buttermere 40 x 100 cm

11. Skies above Crinkle Crags and Bowfell 90 x 90 cm

12. Stonethwaite foxgloves 10 x 10 cm

14. Meadow cranesbill 10 x 10 cm

13. Cotton grass, Nether Wasdale 10 x 10 cm

15. Foxgloves, Wasdale 10 x 10 cm

16. Break in the clouds, Derwentwater 40 x 40 cm

17. Below Eagle Crag 30 x 30 cm

18. The other side of Ashness Bridge 24 x 24 cm

19. Haystacks and Pillar from Fleetwith Pike 60 x 84 cm

20. Showers, Dale End above Little Langdale 40 x 40 cm

21. Wet day, Stonethwaite, Borrowdale 24.5 x 48.5 cm

22. Stickle Ghyll above Millbeck, Langdale 40 x 40 cm

23. Bluebells, High Rannerdale 61 x 76 cm

24. Wastwater 24 x 48 cm

26. Between Elterwater and Little Langdale 61 x 76 cm

25. Rosthwaite 30 x 30 cm

27. Elterwater 40 x 40 cm

28. Tilberthwaite Fells from Greenburn Beck 60 x 60 cm

29. Last light on Derwentwater 30 x 30 cm

30. Twilight at Grange in Borrowdale 30 x 30 cm

31. Cloud cover over Brandreth 40 x 100 cm

32. Evening light, High Spy and Maiden Moor from the path to Stonethwaite, Borrowdale 60 x 60 cm

33. Spring at Ullswater 51 x 60 cm

34. Bridge End near Little Langdale 40 x 40 cm

35. Path to Greenburn Beck, Little Langdale 61 x 77 cm

36. Looking south from Gowbarrow, Ullswater 50 x 50 cm

37. Cotton grass, Wasdale 51 x 76 cm

38. River Esk towards Scafell Pike from above Lingcove Bridge 50 x 50 cm

39. Mid morning on Crummock Water 40 x 51 cm

40. Above Gowbarrow Bay 24 x 24 cm

41. Spring at Ulcat Row 30 x 30 cm

42. Windy day, Wastwater 46 x 61 cm

43. The end of the day, Langstrath Beck 46 x 61 cm

how

TO PURCHASE

The works illustrated are available for sale prior to the exhibition immediately on receipt of this catalogue.

To check availability and place orders: • telephone 01768 483601 • visit the gallery in person • email enquiries@ beckstonesartgallery.co.uk All paintings are oil on canvas. Sizes shown are in centimetres and give the dimensions of the actual image excluding the frame.

The exhibition runs from 10am on Saturday 7 October to 5pm Sunday 22 October 2023.

The full catalogue can also be viewed nearer the date online at beckstonesartgallery.co.uk We regret that paintings cannot be held on reserve for approval.

Please note that paintings are available to purchase immediately

Beckstones Art Gallery · Greystoke Ghyll, Nr. Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0UQ · Tel: 01768 483601

beckstonesartgallery.co.uk tennantdesign.co.uk