Robert Greenhalf - Wild Wings Over Lonely Shores

R O B E R T G R E E N H A L F

Wild Wings Over Lonely Shores

7th - 29th June 2019

R O B E R T

G R E E N H A L F

Wild Wings Over Lonely Shores “In this exhibition, ‘Wild Wings over Lonely Shores’, I have brought together paintings and original prints of the birds and landscapes that I have encountered on my frequent visits to our coastline. There are the wild flat expanses of shore and marshes abounding with wildfowl and waders, then there are the sea cliffs and islands teeming with nesting seabirds and even a few forays into the hills and moors, though never far from the coast.

It is in these wildly beautiful and often lonely places that I most often find my inspiration.” writes Robert Greenhalf of his forthcoming exhibition at the Castle Gallery, Inverness.

For Robert, drawing in his sketchbook is the essential prelude to the finished work. This is about information gathering and getting to know the subject and its habitat intimately and for him there is no substitute for spending time observing and drawing. He says “Spend a couple of hours or so with your subject and you will certainly know a lot more about it than if you had merely ‘snapped’ it with your camera and moved on.” As a result his paintings and woodcuts have a lively spontaneity and authenticity.

Robert Greenhalf is a keen birdwatcher and has been a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists since 1981.

This exhibition will include nearly 50 oil paintings and hand-printed woodcuts evocative of the habitats and birdlife that have inspired him.

The exhibition can be viewed on the Castle Gallery’s website: W: www.castlegallery.co.uk T: 01463 729512 E: info@castlegallery.co.uk

Cover: Lapwings, Evening Light, oil on board, 34 x 34cm

PA I N T I N G S

Snipe, oil on board, 24 x 55cm

Snow was Shining in the Grampians, oil on linen, 61 x 61cm

Puffin Pair, oil on board, 24 x 24cm

Avocets Flying In, oil on board, 61 x 61cm

Ebbing Tide, oil on board, 34 x 34cm

Lapwings and Wigeon, oil on board, 24 x 55cm

Shelducks, oil on board, 24 x 24cm

Redshanks, oil on board, 24 x 24cm

Oystercatchers and Sandwich Terns, oil on board, 24 x 24cm

Barn Owl, oil on board, 24 x 24cm

Kittiwakes, oil on board, 41 x 61cm

Whimbrels Waiting for the Ebb, oil on board, 34 x 34cm

Goldfinches and Swallows, oil on board, 61 x 61cm

Oystercatchers and Swallows, oil on board, 24 x 24cm

Cranes, oil on board, 24 x 24cm

Shelducks and Heron, oil on board, 24 x 24cm

Lapwings and Shovelers, oil on board, 34 x 34cm

Windy Day, oil on board, 34 x 34cm

Lapwings, oil on board, 24 x 55cm

Pintails and Lapwings, oil on board, 32 x 46cm

Whimbrels and Swallows, oil on board, 34 x 34cm

M O N O P R I N T S

Opposite: Black Cocks, monoprint, 33 x 49cm

Curlew, monoprint, 44 x 44cm

Raven, monoprint, 44 x 44cm

Peregrine, monoprint, 28 x 28cm

WO O D C U T S

Grey Plovers, woodcut, 17 x 40cm

Garganey, woodcut, 28 x 28cm

Bewick’s Swans & Lapwings, woodcut, 28 x 28cm

Hawfinches, woodcut, 40 x 17cm

Great White Egrets, woodcut, 40 x 17cm

Bearded Tits, woodcut, 40 x 17cm

Bullfinches & Woodpigeons, woodcut, 28 x 28cm

Brents & Lapwings, woodcut, 28 x 28cm

Razorbills, woodcut, 28 x 28cm

Puffins, woodcut, 28 x 28cm

Shelducks & Godwits, woodcut, 28 x 28cm

Four Avocets, woodcut, 28 x 28cm

M I C H A E L

LY T H G O E

The exhibition will be accompanied by hand-carved sculptures by Michael Lythgoe Michael Lythgoe carves softwoods using drawknives and spokeshaves. He prefers to work with Western Red Cedar because of its beautiful grain and Hemlock because of its weightiness. Driftwood is also sometimes incorporated into the design as a foil to the smooth finish of the carved wood.

On a trip to Cape Cod Michael purchased an old wooden decoy and this was the catalyst for his artistic carving career. He has evolved his own distinctive style which combines the eye of an ornithologist with the skill of an engineer. His favourite bird species is the loon.

From wrens to orca whales, each sculpture is unique.

The exhibition can be viewed on the Castle Gallery’s website: W: www.castlegallery.co.uk T: 01463 729512 E: info@castlegallery.co.uk

Curlew Flock, driftwood, cedar & acrylic paint, 50 x 50 x 17cm

Three Yellow Birds in a Tree, driftwood, cedar & acrylic paint, 40 x 35 x 13cm

Diving Little Tern, driftwood, cedar & acrylic paint, 43 x 50 x 22cm

Swift in Flight, driftwood, hemlock & acrylic paint, 45 x 48 x 35cm

Three Terns with Mackerel, driftwood, cedar & acrylic paint, 23 x 10 x 65cm

Back Page: Shoal of Seven Wee Mackerel, driftwood, lime & acrylic paint, 20 x 60cm

Castle Gallery, 43 Castle St,

Inverness, IV2 3DU 01463 729512 i n f o @ c a s t l e g a l l e r y. c o . u k

www.castlegallery.co.uk