Maria Laffey - Favourite Works and Inspiration

Maria Laffey: A Year in South West Northumberland is currently on show at Gallagher & Turner until September 4th. The exhibition features a series of paintings created close to home, in rural Northumberland during the national lockdown. Maria was kind enough to answer some questions for us about her work and give us an insight into her process and what inspires her.

Sketching in the field

Setting out to paint sheep!

What inspires you?

I am lucky enough to walk outside of my door and be immersed in the landscape of rural Northumberland. The south Tyne and Allen Valleys are an ever evolving source of inspiration for me as a painter throughout the four seasons. It is big sky country and a wonderful mix of both rugged heathery uplands with many breeds of sheep and the lush river valleys and farmland with beef cattle, hedgerows and crop fields. I walk many miles most days and observe and experience the landscape with all my senses. It has been wonderful in 20202/2021 to observe the passage of the months through all weathers and to notice and to really experience  “A Year in South West Northumberland '' for my series of paintings currently showing with Gallagher and Turner. Many of my paintings are started or painted entirely in the field.

Painting above the beach at Hauxley (near Amble)

The deep snowfall and sunny days of winter 20/21 provided several weeks of landscape painting heaven for me. The Northumberland light and the resulting drama always invite a response.

Snow on the Road out of Chesterwood, 2021

I grew up however on the North East Coast and am usually happiest when painting the sea whilst out by the sea in all elements. It is invigorating and exciting and gives my painting a fresh energy.

What will you be working on next?

I have just started a new series of paintings of the east coast  and I am planning to paint along the coastline from Berwick to Scarborough and everywhere in between! I will be revisiting my well loved childhood haunts of Runswick Bay and Staithes and Whitby. I also love the industrial skylines as a coastal backdrop around Hartlepool and the Tees estuary. The light seems to have a special quality on this section of the coast. I am looking forward to many plein air/outdoor painting days rediscovering this coastline and the huge skies over the next several months. I particularly love the winter months’ light.

Work in progress: Hay Bales in August 

Closer to home, late summer into autumn is my favourite time in the glorious allotments in our village. I'm getting up close and personal with an abundance of produce and gladioli, dahlias, sunflowers and nasturtiums. I’ll be  working on this little series of allotment paintings alongside heading to the coast to sketch and to gather information for the East Coast Series. 

Painting in the allotments

The drying table in my studio

I benefit from looking at the work of favourite painters when I'm working on a particular series. I have been enjoying recently the garden paintings of Sorolla and revisiting my favourite wild east coast sea paintings of Len Tabner. 

What's been your best moment as a painter?

My favourite moment as a painter isn't any particular occasion I can pinpoint. Instead it  is the point at which I have my easel set up in front of my subject in the landscape and am faced with a set of clean brushes and a blank canvas and the paint on my pallet and I feel the sheer excitement at what will unfold. 

Painting in the Pavillion Gardens, Buxton 2021

Any favourite works you've made?

One of my favourite paintings this year has been my painting of Druridge Bay which was selected for the New Light Art Prize. I painted it on my last visit to the coast before the lockdown was imposed. It was many months before I was able to return.

Drurudge Bay, Oil on Canvas, New Light Art Prize

Other favourites are my snow scenes around Haydon Bridge including the oil painting of my favourite hedgerow in the thick snow which was selected for and was sold at the Royal Society of British Artists’ Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London.

Snowy Fields in Northumberland - RBA Exhibition

Another favourite is of the black hebridean lambs in the spring sunshine under my favourite hedgerow. I love their little black devilish horns which seemed fitting for their mischievous personalities. They learnt quickly how to squeeze through the fence to eat the greener grass on the other side but would jump back in as you came near, as if butter wouldn't melt! 

Hedgerow and Hebridean Lambs, 2021, Oil on paper

How has your work evolved since you started painting?

My painting materials have evolved this year to include painting in oils on paper in addition to painting on canvas or on gesso board. It has been interesting to realise that painting on paper has caused me to use the oils in a very direct, alla prima manner, often finishing the painting in one sitting. Painting on paper has felt very freeing. I will continue to work in this way.

New Year’s Day, 2021, Oil on board