David Atkins
Artist statement
My paintings are about experiencing and responding to the places I encounter. This is often achieved by spending periods of time in a landscape and looking and working directly from it. Working outside means I am immersed in the landscape and experiencing lots of different things. My senses are alive to the conditions of weather, the sounds and smell from the sea and land, the call of a birds and animals. I’m dressed for the cold, heat, wind and rain even snow. Seeing the dawn through to dusk, the seasons change and the constant movement of the landscape is a real privilege and one I want to express in my paintings. I meet many people too when I am painting. I listen to their stories and share familiar thoughts on the weather and politics, some bring me tea and offer food. All of this in some way adds to the richness of being and painting in the landscape.
As I try to capture the ever-changing scene before me, I do so in a way that allows paint and colour to be used in an expressive and gestural manner. I am always asked when do I know when to stop? This usually happens when I have made something that has gone beyond anything I had expected. It’s a moment of discovery when painting and looking say something of the grandeur and beauty I experienced in that moment.
David Atkins
A morning with david atkins
The tradition of landscape painting has always been at the heart of David’s drawing and painting. He works directly from the environment, often revisiting places many times and in ever changing weather and seasons. In this video we meet David at Porthcothan to discover more about what inspires and drives him, as well sharing his passion for capturing a moment in time.
