Peter Symonds Exhibition 2018 by beckstones

Peter Symonds 6 - 14 October 2018

Here at Beckstones we love it as we finally approach the start of our biennial Peter Symonds exhibition. Sadly deprived of paintings between exhibitions, the excitement and anticipation builds as we approach early autumn and the longoverdue glimpse of Peter’s latest Lake District paintings. This year we have thirty wonderful new paintings to tempt and tantalise you all with! It goes without saying that the Lake District is a truly beautiful place, everchanging in different seasons, light and weather conditions and never anything less than spectacular. Nothing can exactly replicate the sensations experienced when physically here but a Peter Symonds landscape comes very, very close, stirring all manner of emotions and conveying clearly his enduring passion for this lovely part of the world. For Peter, the most challenging part of the painting process is finding the right subject matter for his paintings and to this end he can spend weeks in the Lake District, walking endlessly as he searches for that perfect vista that he feels moved to paint. The execution of the painting is then, for him, relatively straightforward and comes very naturally. Self-taught and working exclusively in oils, Peter’s pure ability to capture on canvas all he has experienced in situ is beyond compare. His subtle palette, skilful use of light and inclusion of just enough detail result in quite delightful landscapes that always prove to be irresistible. Peter lives in Surrey with his wife Vanessa and their two teenage children. When he’s not in his studio he enjoys playing golf and cycling. He is an experienced walker and climber and loves wild mountainous places both here and overseas. He has been one of the country’s finest landscape artists for more than 30 years painting many varied parts of the world in that time, but his long-term love affair with the Lake District shows no sign of abating (luckily for us)! It is an absolute pleasure to be Peter’s foremost gallery and we are delighted to be able to finally share these wonderful paintings with you.

Thirty two years ago, ignoring the wise counsel of friends and family who warned of a life of inevitable destitution, debauchery and squalid garrets, I set off on the road to becoming an artist. Thank goodness for the impetuosity of youth! With the exception of my father, my loved ones had clearly seen little sign of optimism in my early work. However, the dream and desire had been set on course, and were fuelled by a number of lessons from the great wildlife painter, David Shepherd, a family friend who had generously given me much encouragement. He instilled in me the great need to work incredibly hard but I was still lacking a clear direction in which to travel. Initially I was concentrating on painting pastoral English landscapes, and taking any commissions that came my way, but I was yet to discover my true oeuvre, that passion for a particular subject that could truly inspire me. The answer should have been rather obvious, as I had already started to love walking in the Lake District, but it still took a while for the proverbial penny to drop. Thankfully, it eventually did. Since the early 1990’s this passion to be in and to paint wild places has been the driving force behind my work, and I owe much of this to my beloved Lake District. It is now almost a second home to me and is the place I feel most connected to. However, without a local gallery to promote and exhibit my work, it would have been so much harder to stay on this path. I am indebted to the friend who introduced me to Beckstones over twenty years ago. During this time they have handled all my Lake District paintings, and my thanks again go to Niki and Karen for putting on this, my seventh exhibition, at their beautiful gallery.

1. Late winter, the Buttermere Fells from Crummock Water 18 x 32 inches

A walk around the shores of Crummock Water makes a superb outing, and in my opinion is more rewarding than the incredibly popular ramble around nearby Buttermere. It is a longer walk, but more spacious and throughout the whole circuit provides superlative views of both the lake and all the surrounding fells. The eastern shore, depicted here beneath the ramparts of Mellbreak, feels remote and encapsulates all that I most love about the outstanding landscapes in this most beautiful part of our country.

2. A blustery day, Rydal Water 16 x 24 inches

This was a perfect day for an artist to be beside a lake as beautiful as Rydal Water, but with the sun high in the sky, midday can often bring a flat, uninteresting light. However, throw in some dark racing clouds punctuated with areas of bright sky and the resulting shafts of sunlight, and the whole situation markedly changes. A moody sky also makes a powerful counterchange to the wonderful autumnal colours.

3. Ullscarf and Eagle Crag 10 x 15 inches

Situated about a kilometre north west of the junction between Greenup Gill and Langstrath, this was a gift to paint. With the path and drystone wall leading the eye into the painting and up to the shapely bulk of Eagle Crag, all that was needed was some good weather and hey presto!

4. Derwentwater and Blencathra 8 x 10 inches

5. Castle Crag, Borrowdale 8 x 12 inches

6. The Langdale Pikes from Elterwater 12 x 22 inches

The older I get the more entranced I have become with the sky and the vital role it plays in creating the mood of the landscape below. I have witnessed this stunning view of the Langdale Pikes on many occasions but if the sky is not helping to produce the all important atmosphere that I seek, then I will soon move on.

7. An autumn evening, Wastwater 15 x 30 inches

Earlier in the day my son and I had enjoyed a great walk in the fells to the north of Wasdale, and on the way back to the car I had a strong sense that the light was going to be superb as the day drew towards a close. This is an extraordinarily perfect viewpoint anyway, but when encountered under a dramatic evening sky as well, it provides all the qualities that an artist searches for when creating a landscape painting.

8. The path to Langstrath and Eagle Crag 20 x 30 inches

There is a wonderful anticipation before setting off for a day in the fells. The Langstrath holds a special place in my heart and whenever I approach this gate my expectations can go into overdrive. Memories from previous paintings done, great walks and invigorating swims in the beck come flooding back, and there is also that hope that the new day will be just as rewarding. However, as my longsuffering wife and friends will attest to, the artist in me can never divorce an excursion from the constant urge to find new and inspirational scenes to paint. A walk can be instantly terminated if the light and conditions are behaving and on this particular day all pre-laid plans were arrested by this superb scene shortly beyond the Stonethwaite campsite.

9. Track to Hollows Farm, Grange in Borrowdale 12 x 22 inches

One of the pleasures of walking in the Lakes during the different seasons, as well as varying times of the day, is that a scene previously passed by can suddenly present itself in an entirely new way. Here, I was struck by the glow of bright green on the field in front of the house and the way it was enhanced by the dark foliage around it. This is a classic example of a backlit scene when the increased contrasts on the landscape make such a rewarding subject

10. Autumn morning, Derwentwater. 14 x 24 inches

When amongst awesome scenery, I have a very strong drive to walk, climb and explore it, but always with the necessity to find a view to paint. When such a place is found, there is no better antidote to the restlessness within me, and it can then be incredibly hard to actually drag myself away! At this early hour it was very peaceful for the hour or two I spent beside the shores of Derwentwater, often referred to as the ‘Queen of the Lakes.’

11. High Crag from Buttermere 8 x 12 inches

12. Wall End, Great Langdale 8 x 12 inches

13. Morning haze, Grange in Borrowdale 20 x 40 inches

This magnificent viewpoint was the subject for the second painting I ever did of the Lake District, many years ago now. I painted another view of it too, in 1992, when it was consequently published as my first Lakeland print, selling many thousands of copies and helping to establish me as a Lake District painter. This, however, is the first time I have attempted to incorporate these two fine bridges that span the Derwent at this spot. It was painted in mid February when the sun had just risen above the fells that hem the valley in here. I was captivated by the beautiful atmospheric conditions that often accompany this time of year when the sun remains so low in the sky.

14. Winter, the Scafell range from Styhead Beck 16 x 24 inches

In nearly 30 years of painting the Lake District, this is only the third time I have portrayed the Scafells. The problem for artists and photographers is that our two highest mountains do not present themselves in their best light when seen from below. The views from Eskdale and Wasdale, from the east and west, though magnificent, do not make great compositions. From the north, in the past, I must have been in a hurry to get up to Styhead, because it was only last winter that I decided to wind slowly upwards following the bank of this beck. With the small waterfall providing a great foreground and the mountains beyond carpeted in snow, I knew I had all the ingredients for a successful painting of these iconic peaks.

15. Evening light over Crummock Water 12 x 20 inches

Having already spent much of the day working beside Crummock Water’s shoreline, I was very keen to spend the closing hours studying this view above it. The soft, gentle light created a slightly dreamy effect over the landscape, but at this time of day the light was constantly changing. It is almost always so in the Lake District!

16. Great Gable from Lambfoot Dub 5 x 7 inches 17. Aira Point, Ullswater 6 x 8 inches

18. Ascending Catbells 8 x 16 inches

It may not be the highest of fells, but with its fine summit and superb views in all directions, Catbells is always a great destination.

19. The return to Stonethwaite 10 x 12 inches

20. Dawn, Friar’s Crag, Derwentwater 12 x 20 inches

It can be hard sometimes to drag oneself out of bed on a cold morning, particularly when in that early stupor I am tempted to believe that this is a holiday! However, when a quick glimpse out of the window reveals promising conditions, all thoughts of further sleep quickly evaporate. On this particular morning I had to agree wholeheartedly with the phrase ‘the early bird catches the worm’. It didn’t take long for the reflections to disappear and there was soon a cloudless day for all the walkers to enjoy!

21. A still morning, Derwentwater 8 x 11 inches

22. Late afternoon shadows, Stonethwaite 8 x 11 inches

23. October, Martindale 18 x 32 inches

Despite being a favourite scene in one of my best loved areas of the Lakes, I am surprised that this is only the third time I have actually painted it. This is private land, but the farmer who lives in the cottage has kindly given me permission to view it from this angle - and what a great composition it is! It can be very boggy around here, and a few years ago I went to leap a small stream only to land up to my thighs in the muddy ooze! Knowing his land well, I could imagine the farmer chuckling to himself from the nearby field as he saw my plight.

24. Goldrill Beck, Patterdale 16 x 22 inches

This is far and away the most ‘urbanized’ painting I have completed of the Lake District, yet I feel it still manages to convey the wildness of the surrounding landscape. This view will be familiar to all those who set off to or return from the walk along the far shore of Ullswater.

25. Early autumn, Fleetwith Pike and Crummock Water 10 x 15 inches

As summer starts to give way to autumn, the lakeland landscape enters its most picturesque season. The trees have yet to turn, but the bracken and longer grasses are already displaying a range of warmer hues that are so much fun to paint.

27. Lakeshore, Elterwater 8 x 12 inches

26. The old barn, Grisedale 10 x 12 inches

28. Ullswater from Glencoyne Park 10 x 15 inches

Who hasn’t had their eye averted by the view of Ullswater when driving south from Dockray near Aira Force? With the lake, the many fine specimens of trees and the open fields, it certainly does have the feel of parkland set amongst a glorious landscape.

29. Borrowdale from the path to Watendlath 9 x 14 inches

It would be impossible to tire of painting the British landscape, with the seasons and wide variety of weather conditions we experience (often all in one day up here!) all contributing to the myriad of subtle colours that are on display. Here it was a joy painting the cool blues and purples on the hills and contrasting them with the warmer flecks of light on the bracken.

30. River Brathay, near Elterwater 14 x 24 inches

The beautiful stretch of water between Skelwith Bridge and Elterwater must be amongst the most popular walks in the Lake District. There are so many paintable views that it can be quite a problem knowing what to focus on! As so often, the beautiful sky with its soft pastel shades was the key to getting this painting feeling right.

1. Late winter, the Buttermere Fells from Crummock Water // 2. A blustery day, Rydal Water // 3. Ullscarf and Eagle Crag // 4. Derwentwater and Blencathra // 5. Castle Crag, Borrowdale 6. The Langdale Pikes from Elterwater // 7. An autumn evening, Wastwater // 8. The path to Langstrath and Eagle Crag // 9. Track to Hollows Farm, Grange in Borrowdale 10. Autumn morning, Derwentwater. // 11. High Crag from Buttermere // 12. Wall End, Great Langdale // 13. Morning haze, Grange in Borrowdale // 14. Winter, the Scafell range from Styhead Beck 15. Evening light over Crummock Water // 16. Great Gable from Lambfoot Dub // 17. Aira Point, Ullswater // 18. Ascending Catbells // 19. The return to Stonethwaite // 20. Dawn, Friar’s Crag, Derwentwater 21. A still morning, Derwentwater // 22. Late afternoon shadows, Stonethwaite // 23. October, Martindale // 24. Goldrill Beck, Patterdale // 25. Early autumn, Fleetwith Pike and Crummock Water 26. The old barn, Grisedale // 27. Lakeshore, Elterwater // 28. Ullswater from Glencoyne Park // 29. Borrowdale from the path to Watendlath // 30. River Brathay, near Elterwater

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 inches and give the dimensions of the actual image excluding the frame. The exhibition runs from 10am on 6 October to 5pm Sun 14 October 2018. The full catalogue can also be viewed nearer the date online at www.beckstonesartgallery.co.uk We regret that paintings cannot be held on reserve for approval.

Please note that paintings are available to purchase immediately

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