3 Kirkgate Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1PA
tel: 01765 602878 email: thegallery@hornseys.com
www.hornseys.com

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john f smout

It is difficult to explain my work in words and I hope they speak for themselves. Although the creative process knows of no hard and fast divisions, I like to emphasise structure and order in the visual world, whether landscape architecture or life paintings and drawings. The real and the abstract constantly intermingle. Colour has always been important and is an active and expressive force in my work.

Most of my paintings rely on numerous ink and watercolour drawings, sometimes completed over many months. The paintings are usually part of a series and are like members of one family.

Landscape has been a recurring obsession for the past 30 years, and often interwoven with other themes. I always attempt to reveal the underlying structure emphasising the natural force and power beneath the surface.

Architectural structures and monuments have been an inspiration in my work. In some later paintings I have employed letter forms as an integral part of the whole.

A series, which I am only just explaining, is based upon ancient portraits. I have been attempting to recreate the essence of these portraits in a contemporary manner. Although much of my work radiates a spirit of optimism, it is occasionally tinged with the darker side of humanity.

My work does not stand still and is always evolving, sometime responding to current events and moods, but I hope will always remain relevant to the present time.

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Early Evening Light Elevated Landscape Folding Hills Tryptych Morning Light Ploughed Field Thro' The Day Transformed Landscape Elevated Landscape Resurgence 6 Resurgence 1 Resurgence 5 Over The Vale Triptych Unfolding Landscape Above Llanbedr The Pantheon Ancient Faces 1 Ancient Politicians Look For The Light Grave Men With Sight Blinded Llangollen Chapel YNYS X Ruined Chapel II Over The Hills