Matthew Snowden 9 – 19 February 2016
THACKERAY GALLERY Est 1968
The Westerly Edge I have painted the Western Edge of the British coastline for over 20 years now, regularly visiting my favorite places on Anglesey, Pembrokeshire and the Scottish Islands. This year I chose to revisit the Hebredean island of Islay spending most of my time studying & sketching the one-mile stretch of magnificent rocky white shell beach that is known as Saligo Bay. The catalyst and inspiration for the title and theme of this exhibition, came from the observation of weather fronts streaming in from across the slate turquoise Atlantic, and marveling at the sublime light effects of cloud shadow and sunlight counterchanged by the dark rock and white crashing surf. Although predominantly an exhibition of seascapes, also included are paintings of early spring along the magical Welsh rivers of the Afon Conwy and Afon Glaslyn. I was particularly inspired by the 'chiaroscuro effect' of the strong morning light reflected off the river and seen through the greens and yellows of the new spring leaves. Matthew Snowden 2016
Cover: White Sands, Iona acrylic on canvas – 50 x 60cm
Autumn Falls, Ogwen acrylic on canvas 100 x 80cm
Barra, Outer Hebrides acrylic on canvas 40 x 60cm
Springtime Arisaig acrylic on canvas 40 x 40cm
Big Sky, Islay acrylic on canvas 40 x 40cm
Breaking Waves acrylic on canvas 50 x 70cm
Estuary Sunset acrylic on canvas 80 x 80cm
Coul Point, Saligo Bay acrylic on canvas 40 x 60cm
Crashing Waves, Anglesey acrylic on canvas 50 x 50cm
Fairy Glen acrylic on canvas 70 x 100cm
FionPort, Mull acrylic on canvas 30 x 30cm
Turquoise Sea, Iona acrylic on canvas 30 x 30cm
Hebridean Sky acrylic on canvas 100 x 100cm
Highwater Saligo Bay acrylic on canvas 70 x 100cm
Into Spring, Afon Glasgyn acrylic on canvas 50 x 60cm
Llanberis Pass acrylic on canvas 90 x 110cm
Llyn Gwynant acrylic on canvas 50 x 60cm
Saligo Bay, Islay acrylic on canvas 90 x 130cm
Shoreline, Islay acrylic on canvas 50 x 40cm
Singing Sands, Islay acrylic on canvas 60 x 80cm
Spring Afon Conwy acrylic on canvas 70 x 70cm
Spring on the River acrylic on canvas 60 x 60cm
Spring Tide, Pembrokeshire acrylic on canvas 90 x 90cm
Summer Day, Iona acrylic on canvas 30 x 60cm
Summer Green, Trearddur acrylic on canvas 50 x 60cm
Summer Sky, Porth Nobla acrylic on canvas 60 x 60cm
Trevone, Cornwall acrylic on canvas 60 x 60cm
Westerly Winds acrylic on canvas 80 x 80cm
White Sands, Iona acrylic on canvas 50 x 60cm
Saligo Sky, Islay acrylic on canvas 40 x 40cm
Sunset over Iona acrylic on canvas 30 x 30cm
Hushinis, Outer Hebrides acrylic on canvas 30 x 60cm
Windy Day, Trevone acrylic on canvas 50 x 50cm
Islay acrylic on canvas 40 x 60cm
Eigg acrylic on canvas 40 x 50cm
BIOGRAPHY Born in 1969 in Heswall, Merseyside. BA Hons, Industrial Design Selected Solo Exhibitions 2013-2015 Gorstella Gallery, Chester 2010-2014 Kooywood Gallery, Wales 2009-2015 Galeri Betwsycoed, Wales 2002-2007 Dee Fine Arts, Wirral 1999-2003 Clwyd Theatre, Wales Selected Exhibitions 2010 Galerie Archange, Paris 2002-2008 Royal Cambrian Academy, Wales 2003-2005 Bankside Gallery London, with RWS 2002-2006 Mall Galleries, London, with RI and RSMA
Public Collections National Library of Wales Williamson Art Gallery and Museum, Birkenhead Private Collections Works in Europe, USA, China, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand Selected Misc “Who's Who in Art”, listed in 34th and 35th editions
Matthew Snowden draws his inspiration from the rugged coastline of the UK. His bold paintings executed exclusively with a palette knife in acrylic have attracted a wide following amongst art collectors. These paintings are in many private and prestigious collections including most recently The National Library Of Wales. His subjects are not only about the land and sea, the weather and the light – but also about the movement, the moment, the crashing of waves onto jagged rocks, the sun as it sets over water, the feeling of being outside. Much of his painting is created ‘in situ’ and captures the essence of his subjects. Since 1999, Matthew has exhibited in Mixed Shows around the world and in Solo Shows throughout the UK.
Published by Thackeray Gallery, 2016 Photography by Matthew Snowden, 2016 Text by Matthew Snowden, 2016