peter brown
front cover:
1
Blackshore, Southwold, 2017
oil on canvas 89 x 76 cms 35 x 30 ins
right:
2
Moorings at Bar ton Tur f Staithe, Evening Light, 2017
oil on board 31 x 25 cms 12 x 10 ins
below (detail):
Blackshore, Southwold, Gulls Feeding, 2017 (no. 6)
above:
3
Buckingham Palace Road, 2016
oil on board  41 x 31 cms 16 x 12 ins
peter brown East Coast and London
2017
www.messums.com 28 Cork Street, London W1S 3NG Telephone: +44 (0)20 7437 5545
peter brown Peter Brown’s recent journeying in East Anglia, producing
The alertness of his response, the way in which Peter
a series of new paintings from Norfolk down to Essex,
Brown has brought to his work the feel, as well as the
has revealed a natural affinity for landscape that might
look of this part of the world, betrays something of the
surprise those more used to his well-known city scenes.
chemistry between him and this place. It is not surprising
His evident free-wheeling enjoyment in the face of broad
the region creates a particular electricity – it is, after all,
East Anglian skies, buffeting winds, beaches and dunes,
where English landscape painting was born, and where it
and hedgerows and swaying trees, is palpable: obvious in
richly, and famously, matured. In the late 17th century, at a
the quick dashes of fresh colour, the confident translation
time when it was just as easy to get from parts of Norfolk
of natural forms into brisk marks. It is revelatory and joyous
and Suffolk to the Low Countries as it was to travel to
painting, full of the rhythms of looking and describing, of
London, the novelty of landscape art (paintings purely
making instinctive decisions, the artist immersing himself
of rural scenes) first leaked over from the European
in these peculiarly English places.
mainland into East Anglia.
4
Scolt Head in Sun from Brancaster Staithe, 2017
oil on board 20 x 25 cms 8 x 10 ins
5
Morning Frost, Richmond, 2016
oil on board 25 x 31 cms 10 x 12 ins
It was the start of an extraordinary relationship between
The ultimate destination of Peter Brown’s journey
landscape painting and East Anglia, and one that has
across Norfolk, down through Suffolk and on to
produced wondrous riches: Gainsborough’s paintings
Essex, is London. The East Anglian paintings in the
of Cornard Wood and the landscape near Sudbury,
artist’s new exhibition find their ideal accompaniment
Constable’s grand devotions to Dedham Vale, Cotman’s
in a group of his renowned street scenes, busy with
Romantic watercolours, Seago’s billowing fields. It is a
fascinating social observation, and alive with sparkling
heritage that grows out of the place itself, encouraged
light, and Brown’s characteristic rain-wet pavements.
by geography and weather, to form a parochial softness,
These London works chart a city world that moves
a thorough Englishness.
from Drury Lane to Sloane Square to Richmond, intent
That is clearly what has drawn Peter Brown so successfully to his new subject matter, and what has ignited a warmth
on recording how people move and work and wait and live.
within each of these new East Anglian scenes. They carry
Each of these journeys through parts of England, each
a lightness of observation, a spontaneity of engagement,
of these discoveries that Peter Brown unearths, are a
while being quietly rooted in a great English landscape
celebration not just of a spirit of place, another intriguing
tradition – a great East Anglian tradition – which gives them
corner found, but also of lives lived, of how we ourselves
a restorative richness, an added aura of understanding.
behave in this country of ours.
6
Blackshore, Southwold, Gulls Feeding, 2017
oil on board 20 x 61 cms 8 x 24 ins
7
Pin Mill, 2017
oil on canvas 64 x 51 cms 25 x 20 ins
8
Southwold from the Dunes, 2017
oil on canvas 64 x 76 cms 25 x 30 ins
9
Southwold Beach, August Bank Holiday, 2017
oil on canvas 51 x 102 cms 20 x 40 ins
10
The Ancient Mariner Mooring, Horsey Mere, 2017
oil on canvas 64 x 76 cms 25 x 30 ins
11
Willows at Horsey, 2017
oil on canvas 89 x 76 cms 35 x 30 ins
12
Blackshore, Southwold with Canada Geese, 2017
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
13
The Bridge at Snape, 2017
oil on board 41 x 31 cms 16 x 12 ins
14
The Ferr y Hut and Harbour, Walberswick, Early Morning, 2017
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
15
Blackshore and Walberswick from the Golf Course, Early Morning, 2017
oil on canvas 31 x 92 cms 12 x 36 ins
16
From Gun Hill, Southwold, 2017
oil on board 61 x 92 cms 24 x 36 ins
17
Evening after the Rain, Blackshore, Southwold, 2017
oil on canvas 51 x 41 cms 20 x 16 ins
18
Walberswick, looking towards Southwold Lighthouse, 2017
oil on canvas 41 x 51 cms 16 x 20 ins
19
Crabbing at Blakeney, 2017
oil on canvas 51 x 41 cms 20 x 16 ins
20
The Beach at Horsey, looking South, 2017
oil on board 20 x 31 cms 8 x 12 ins
21
The Pier at Cromer, 2017
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
22
September Evening, Southwold Beach with Dog Walkers, 2017
oil on canvas 31 x 92 cms 12 x 36 ins
23
The Beach at Horsey, looking Nor th, 2017
oil on board 20 x 31 cms 8 x 12 ins
24
Towards Blackwater Estuar y from a Farm near Tolleshunt D'Arcy, 2017
oil on board 25 x 31 cms 10 x 12 ins
25
To Blakeney from Agar Creek, Morston, 2017
oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins
26
The Windmill at Cley, 2017
oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins
27
Blackshore with Morning Campers, 2017
oil on canvas 31 x 92 cms 12 x 36 ins
28
The Sluice at Snape Maltings, 2017
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
29
Building Cloud, Southwold from the Dunes, 2017
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
30
Approaching Hail Storm from Brancaster Staithe to Scolt Head, 2017
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
31
Low Tide, Blakeney, from Agar Creek, 2017
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
32
The Light Ship, the Sail Sheds, Tollesbur y, Ebbing Tide, 2017
oil on board 20 x 61 cms 8 x 24 ins
33
High Tide, Pin Mill, 2017
oil on board 41 x 31 cms 16 x 12 ins
34
From Richmond Hill, 2016
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
35
Cornhill in the Rain, 2016
oil on canvas 64 x 51 cms 25 x 20 ins
36
Morning, the Royal Cour ts of Justice, Fleet Street, 2016
oil on canvas 41 x 51 cms 16 x 20 ins
37
Regent Street in Winter, 2017
oil on board 76 x 89 cms 30 x 35 ins
38
Christmas Rush Hour, Cornhill, 2016
oil on canvas 89 x 76 cms 35 x 30 ins
39
Grosvenor Gardens, Belgravia, 2016
oil on board 15 x 31 cms 6 x 12 ins
40
The Fountain in Sloane Square, Springtime, 2017
oil on canvas 61 x 61 cms 24 x 24 ins
41
The Royal Cour ts of Justice, Fleet Street, 2016
oil on board 41 x 31 cms 16 x 12 ins
42
Orange Square, Ebur y Street, 2017
oil on canvas 51 x 64 cms 20 x 25 ins
43
Lower Regent Street in the Rain, Reflections, 2017
oil on canvas 89 x 76 cms 35 x 30 ins
44
November, Richmond Bridge with Heron, 2016
oil on board 15 x 31 cms 6 x 12 ins
45
On the Thames at Putney in Autumn, 2016
oil on board 20 x 61 cms 8 x 24 ins
46
Lower Regent Street in the Rain, 2017
oil on canvas 64 x 51 cms 25 x 20 ins
47
The Christmas Lights on Regent Street in the Winter Sun, 2016
oil on board 25 x 31 cms 10 x 12 ins
48
Waterloo Place, Looking up Regent Street, Early Morning Sun, 2017
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
49
Piccadilly Circus on a Winter Afternoon, 2017
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
50
The Christmas Lights on Regent Street, 2016
oil on board 31 x 41 cms 12 x 16 ins
51
Drur y Lane Theatre at Night, 2016
oil on board 23 x 25 cms 9 x 10 ins
CDXXXV
ISBN 978-1-910993-27-9 Publication No: CDXXXV Published by David Messum Fine Art Š David Messum Fine Art
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Studio, Lords Wood, Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Tel: 01628 486565 www.messums.com Photography: Steve Russell Printed by DLM-Creative
peter brown
n e ac r p ro i p s r ba (h o n )
Born 1967
Ar t Educ ation
Collec tions
Group E xhibitions
1992/93 PGCE (FE), University of Greenwich 1987/90 BA Fine Art, Manchester Polytechnic 1986/7 Diploma Foundation Studies, Bath College of Higher Education
The National Library of Wales; The Victoria Art Gallery, Bath; The Holburne Museum, Bath; The Building of Bath Museum, Bath; The Bowerman Collection; House of Fraser; The RAC Club; Howard de Walden Estate; The Target Corporation; The Drapers’ Company; Sir John Sunderland; Battersea Power Station Development Company
2015 Varanasi, 4-man show at Indar Pasricha Fine Arts, London
Award s 2017 The Critics’ Choice (New English Art Club) Public Choice (New English Art Club) 2013 The Le Clerc Fowle Medal The Critics’ Choice (New English Art Club) 2012 The Critics’ Choice (New English Art Club) Runner up, Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2011 The Critics’ Choice (New English Art Club) Painter-Stainers’ Award (New English Art Club) 2nd Prize, The RAC Centenary Exhibition 2009 The Critics’ Choice (New English Art Club) 2008 Prince of Wales Award for Portrait Drawing 2006 First Artist-in-Residence at the Savoy Hotel, London 2005 Hunting Art Prizes: the Drawing Prize Crossgate Gallery Purchase Prize 2002 The Arts Club Award (New English Art Club) 2001 The Arts Club Award (Pastel Society) 2000 W.H.Patterson Memorial Award (New English Art Club) 1999 The Llewellyn Alexander Award (New English Art Club) 1998 The Bristol Fine Art Oil Painting Prize (Royal West of England Academy); The Tom Rice Gallery Award (Pastel Society) 1997 The Saint Cuthbert’s Mill Award (Royal Society of British Artists) 1996 The Pastel Society Non-Members Award
Member ships New English Art Club Royal Society of British Artists (Honorary) Royal Society of Portrait Painters Royal Institute of Oil Painters Pastel Society Bath Society of Artists
One Man E xhibitions 2017 Messum’s (East Coast and London) 2016 The Victoria Art Gallery, Bath Messum’s (Paintings of London) 2014 Messum’s (en route London to Paris) Victoria Art Gallery, Bath 2013 Messum’s (Home and Abroad) Messum’s (Paintings of India) 2012 Messum’s Cork Street, London 2011 Victoria Art Gallery, Bath 2010 Messum’s, Cork Street, London 2009 Messum’s, Cork Street, London Alexander Meddowes, Edinburgh 2008 Messum’s, Cork Street, London; Victoria Art Gallery, Bath Victoria Art Gallery, Bath 2007 Messum’s, Cork Street, London 2005 Messum’s, Cork Street, London Victoria Art Gallery, Bath 2004 Messum’s, Cork Street, London 2003 W.H.Patterson Fine Arts, London 2002 W.H.Patterson Fine Arts, London Victoria Art Gallery, Bath 2000 Victoria Art Gallery, Bath
2013 Five Painters in India, The Tryon Gallery, London 1999–2010 Albany Gallery, Cardiff; Alresford Gallery, Alresford; The Arts Club, London; Champs Hill, Pulborough (courtesy of the Bowermans); Fountain Fine Art, Llandeilo; Island Fine Arts, Isle of Wight; Red Rag Gallery, Stow-on-the-Wold; W.H.Patterson Fine Arts, London
Public ations London: Paintings by Peter Brown, hardback, published: Sansom and Company 2015, ISBN 978 1 908326 80 5 My Indian Travels, by Peter Brown, hardback, published 2013, ISBN 978 1 908486 41 7 Brown’s Bath: The Work of Peter Brown, hardback, published 2008, ISBN 978 0 9559727 0 6 Exhibition catalogues (x18) 2002–2017
DVDs Painting Arles APV Films 2016 Painting Varanasi Neale Worley 2016 Peter Brown: Oil Sketches APV Films 2013
Broadc as t s A Picture of Bath, BBC1 for Inside Out series, September 2004 A Picture of Bath, BBC Radio Bristol for ‘A Sense of Place’ series, May 2002
www.messums.com