Artist of the Month - Richard Corbett
Posted 19 July 2023
Our artist of the month for July is Dorset Visual Arts Member Richard Corbett. He has an exhibition at Eype Centre for the Arts later this month. Further information can be found below.
Here's what he had to say about his practice and working in Dorset: My interest in light and space started when studying relief printmaking at Norfolk Institute of Art and Design (1994). I lived in Suffolk by a tidal river and used to spend time mud larking, collecting driftwood. I became fascinated by the abstract landscape I could create by printing a piece of driftwood on Somerset paper. This “Inscape” became a key aspect of my work from then on. A move to Wales led me to experiment with printing roofing slate onto canvas and pouring transparent liquid paint to express the many layers and drama of the Welsh Landscape.
Song of the Sea - Richard Corbett
As time passed, I started visiting the Cornish and Welsh Coasts, drawn by the large waves and evening light. The painters who worked there inspired me to paint with oils and so I have painted the sea and coastal landscape for the last 15 years. I choose times of day when the light is intense, because of the sense of timelessness it evokes. Surface is still important to me, so I often work on old prints or abandoned paintings, forcing me to adapt my mark-making and to work impasto. My work ranges in size from very small to 1m +.
Windy Day - Richard Corbett
How does working/living in Dorset influence your artistic practice?
When I moved to West Dorset in 2021, the most exciting thing for me was knowing I will not be far from the sea. In quite a short time I also learned to love the local landscape and how it is influenced by the light and weather coming off the sea. I have found my favourite spots and one of them is Eype Beach, a place I first visited on a prep school camp in 1977. I love the anticipation of driving down there and the flash of light as I pull into the car park. I am happiest when walking the ancient paths, discovering new vistas, and then returning to my studio in a historic village in South Perrott, with its beautiful garden. The local River Parrett flows all the way to the Bristol Channel. That sense of history and space connects me physically and emotionally to Dorset.
You can find out more about Richard Corbett's work on his members profile here and on his Facebook page here. Richard has an exhibition of his paintings at Eype Centre for the Arts from Tuesday 15th August - Saturday 19th August 2023.