Peter Quinn RWS: Here and There

Bright colour, a sense of place, and an enjoyment of paint are all hallmarks of Peter Quinn’s work. The scenes he depicts have a life, a vitality about them. They demonstrate a confident draughtsmanship and an eye for details that capture the spirit of a place so completely.

Exploration is important, whether it’s along the local Victorian terraces of Gosforth and Jesmond, the harbour towns of his native Scotland, or in more far-flung locations. Scenes of Venice, Malta, Singapore, Bangkok and New York all feature in this exhibition too. Peter is happy to wander looking for subjects, not in a structured or documentary way, he simply sees things which interest him, and decides that a painting might work.

Buildings are a constant source of inspiration and interest. Rather than ‘picturesque’ views, Peter’s work celebrates forgotten corners, hidden sights, and the wear and tear of urban life. An idea about the light, colour or shape in a composition will form the nucleus of a painting, which then grows organically with no set plan.

Each painting is a voyage of discovery in its own right, born from an accumulation of decisions, errors and compromises. Several will be worked on concurrently, arranged on flat tables around the studio, so one can be progressed while another dries. There is an element of chance and chaos in the process, balanced by confident lines giving definition and shape.

Peter graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1986, and now divides his time between painting and teaching Art History.  He has shown at the Mall Galleries with the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours since 1999, when he was an award winner, and continues to exhibit regularly in London, Newcastle, across Scotland and in Malta. In 2011, Peter was elected a member of the Royal Watercolour Society.

All works are available for sale.