A unique perspective on Pembrokeshire

About

Three artists offer their unique perspectives on Pembrokeshire in a joint exhibition in Tenby in April.

Thomas Haskett of Llanycefn, Dick Evans of St Dogmaels and Martyn Vaughan Jones currently on a narrow-boat somewhere on the English canal system, are artists who share a passion for the area but represent it very differently.

Thomas Haskett, brought up in Kent, has always drawn and painted: “It’s an obsession really, a daily habit.” He benefitted from later art training in Cornwall, achieving his BA (Hons) Illustration from Falmouth School of Arts.  He now is a freelance illustrator, working in conjunction with his clients’ ideas, but his private drawing and painting requires no such compromise. 

Working en plein air he has developed a style that records the topography of the scene in oils, with cleanly demarked colour, a focus on light effects on clouds or water and a gentle appreciation of the area and its variety of landforms, animals and crops. 

Dick Evans, born in St Dogmaels and now returned there, worked for years as an architect in various parts of the world.  Since retirement he has attempted to erase the precise approach necessary for the profession and to adopt a more relaxed style:  “Sometimes it works, occasionally I revert to that deep-set habit.”

His style relies partly on accurate drawing skills, which delineates buildings and architectural details, partly on a free printmaking approach.  He experiments with printmaking and the application of colour with a roller which he combines with his line work.  The effect is of a clear image, solid and real, excited by the surrounding broken colours and textures.

Dick’s subject matter involves “the elements of Wales that hold the essence of time...rocks, chapels and monuments.”

Martyn Vaughan Jones studied illustration at Newport College of Art.  He hasn’t however had to satisfy the artistic demands of clients like Dick and Thomas.  Martyn decided early to live simply, and paint – starting with selling work in markets and small hired venues, and later showing in mixed, paired and solo exhibitions across the UK. He won first prize in the Tenby Open Art Competition in 2002

He is a frequent visitor to Pembrokeshire and his work is in acrylic and usually on canvas or ply boards.  His sketchbook references truly are just the starting point for his atmospheric semi abstract paintings: “As I look at the shapes I’m making another idea will occur to me - I abandon the sketch and start chasing the idea.”

Together there are 60 works to see, combining skilful drawing, printmaking and painting with imagination, inspiration and passion.  The exhibition will show at The White Lion Street Gallery in Tenby from 2nd to 28th April, from 10am till 5pm every day except for Wednesdays. Readers are invited to meet the artists on Easter Saturday, 4th April from 2 to 4pm. For further information telephone 01834-843375 or view the entire exhibition on the gallery website: www.artmatters.org.uk.