Peter Symonds
Landscape artist Peter Symond’s enduring love affair with the Lake District has been severely challenged this year. At the beginning of the 2020, nobody could have imagined what lay ahead of us and the resulting travel restrictions. Thankfully for us all, Peter had already gathered all the reference material necessary for this exhibition and so, deprived of his regular visits to the Lakes, he was then able to console himself in his studio at home in Surrey surrounding himself with his beloved Lake District. Indeed it must have been torture for him to paint this collection of beautiful paintings with no idea of when he and his cherished landscape would be reunited, but paint them he did and wow what a collection! They are quite spectacular and we at Beckstones are very, very excited to be able to share them with you.
Exhibiting at Beckstones now for over 20 years, Peter continues to be regarded as one of the finest landscape artists in the country. His style of painting is so suited to this beautiful area - it is the perfect match. Painting exclusively in oils, Peter conjures up the most irresistible combination of muted colour, mellow light, inspired subject matter and subtle detail. Full of mood and atmosphere, the resulting work is quite magnificent and always worth the wait.
Visiting when he can, Peter’s favourite seasons are early Spring and Autumn when the beautiful hazy Lakeland light is at its softest and the colours so delicately subdued. Exploring the area on foot, bagging a few Wainwrights as he goes, Peter visits areas both old and new, striving to find the most perfect scene to paint and he loves nothing more than being completely off the beaten track discovering somewhere new. More than mere representation, the resulting paintings are quite magical and always highly sought after.
Inspired by some of the great British landscape artists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Peter continues to excel at his craft. We are delighted and proud to host this wonderful exhibition and look forward to welcoming you back to the gallery in person or online.
What is it exactly that makes the Lake District such an irresistible magnet, not just for artists, but for all who come to share in the beauty of this magnificent place? Wordsworth and many poets and writers have borne witness to its allure, but what are the individual factors that make this most stunning corner of our country so appealing to the visual artist?
The immediate and most obvious answer would be the majestic fells and sublime lakes that give the region its name. I personally think there is an unmatched charm and character to these hills and lakes and the way they combine to present some of the most sublime scenery on earth.
But, if one narrows the focus in somewhat, it soon becomes clear that there are many other factors at play too. This could easily become a lengthy list, but I will name just a few of the elements that I personally love: mainly shapely specimen trees of all varieties; enchanting groves and woodlands; numerous becks crashing and tumbling down the fellsides; the beautiful rivers that flow more slowly (normally) through the lowlands; the jewel like tarns of all shapes and sizes that cover the landscape at all altitudes; the dry stone walls that criss cross the fields and fells; the whitewashed farms and the stone buildings that meld so harmoniously into their surroundings. I will stop!
These are some of the things I spend so much of my life absorbed in portraying and that constantly serve as a reminder of what I am missing when away from this most beautiful place in our country.
1. Rannerdale Knotts and the Buttermere Fells, Crummock Water
14 x 24 inches
Atmosphere is the all important ingredient in creating an interesting landscape painting, and with its highly transient weather and gloriously different seasons, the Lake District has it in spades. I love the colour blue in a landscape, and when facing the light early in the day as here, there were gorgeous soft tones of it in the shadows of the fells, creating a slightly dreamy feel to the day.
2. A Lakeland farmhouse, Stonethwaite 8 x 12 inches
3. High Stile from Gatesgarthdale, Buttermere 8 x 12 inches
4. The old boathouse, Ullswater
9 x 14 inches
This was a dramatic day to be beside Ullswater as a strong wind blew in an endless array of cloud formations, which in turn led to the light on the landscape below to change just as quickly.
5. View south from Robin Lane, Troutbeck 10 x 14 inches
Robin Lane is a delightful track that meanders its way between Troutbeck and Ambleside. An alternative way back via Wansfell, it provides superb views over Windermere and the Langdale Pikes.
6. Late afternoon, Bridge End Farm, Little Langdale
14 x 24 inches
As I stood before this scene on this particular afternoon, I was really grateful for the way the light was working to my advantage. As the sun was dipping behind the Wrynose Fells, there was a slither of intense light falling across the middle of the scene focusing the eye onto the autumnal trees and the farmhouse. This was accentuated by the dark, cool shades on Blake Rigg and the distant Langdale Pikes.
7. Late snow, Hart Crag and Fairfield from Deepdale
16 x 24 inches
There are some very fine vistas to be seen in the valleys of the Lake District, but in my opinion, the head of Deepdale is the most magnificent. The imposing buttress of Greenhow End that juts northwards from the high ridge between Fairfield and Hart Crag is very dramatic, amplified by the lingering snow above.
8. Evening, the Langdale Pikes from Little Langdale 9 x 12 inches
9. Sharp light, Stickle Tarn, Langdale. 8 x 15 inches
10. A calm day, Stonethwaite Beck 10 x 14 inches
The weather had been very settled before I painted this, and with the beck at such a low level, the valley felt very tranquil. How very different from a previous visit, when under a leaden sky and, with strong winds and water crashing over the rocks and boulders below, the whole scene was a totally different experience. This is after all one of the wettest places in the Lake District - normally
12. A lakeland farm near Patterdale 16 x 24 inches
The farmer very kindly gave me permission to paint this view on his land, and I felt it right not to advertise the exact location.
I could tell from the wall a few hundred yards away that this could be a fine subject, but with all the interesting colours and reflections in the beck, the subject far exceeded my expectations.
13. An April afternoon, Martindale 18 x 26 inches
My son was with me on this particular day – a combination that doesn’t work when his father is in painting mode! However we planned well on this occasion, as he ran up and down the neighbouring fells, bagging a few Wainwrights, thus allowing me a glorious couple of hours to observe this beautiful landscape.
14. Skiddaw and Blencathra from Sprinkling Crag Tarn 10 x 12 inches
10 x 16 inches
Martindale is remote and feels it too, though I do avoid visiting during busy periods. I was in no hurry to arrive on this clear, spring day as the sun always takes an hour or two to appear over the fells in these valleys. I knew the beck and trees would catch the light before the landscape in the middle distance behind, thus helping to create a greater contrast to the painting.
15. Boredale Beck, Martindale
17. A glimpse of Ullswater from Grisedale Tarn 8 x 12 inches
18. Morning light, Little Langdale
16 x 26 inches
This was painted close to where the steep, narrow road from Blea Tarn joins the Little Langdale road shortly before the climb up to Wrynose Pass. I have often parked my car in the lay-by to the right of the painting if I have been lucky enough to get a space. On this clear, autumnal day I was initially attracted by the old gate and the light falling across the damp road. There was a lovely serene atmosphere with barely a breath of wind, and the soft blue hues on Wetherlam and the fells beyond gave the scene a great depth.
19. High Crag, Buttermere
13 x 26 inches
Who hasn’t had their eyes averted by this stunning view across the lake and up to High Crag at the head of Buttermere? It is the only place on this incredibly popular lake that is immediately accessible by car, though there are only one or two places to pull in. During lockdown we watched all three series of “The A Word” on television and noticed that the film crews were equally taken by this location too.
7 x 12 inches
21. Buttermere and Crummock Water from below Haystacks
22. Langdale Fells from Skelwith 9 x 10 inches
23. Autumn, Pike of Blisco from Stickle Tarn 7 x 12 inches
24.
12 x 22 inches
Whenever I park my car along the lane at Seathwaite, I am always full of excitement and anticipation for the impending walk. All dogs will be able to sympathise with me on this matter! Such was the case on this morning, and I was utterly impervious to the light playing out on this very familiar view in front of me. It was my much calmer wife who made me stop in my tracks to see the rich potential of this scene, though she instantly regretted her decision as our walk up to Great Gable was much delayed!
Autumn, Seathwaite
