Harry Brioche, Gerald Green, John Lines

About

Born in the Seychelles in 1965, Harry Brioche enjoyed a bright childhood growing up on the island of Mahe before moving to England in 1980. From an early age Harry was captivated by the drama and beauty of the atmospheric and ever-changing British sky and landscape. 

The often-fleeting weather experienced in England was in sharp contrast to that of the Seychelles. This inspiration continues to be ever present in his paintings, although this time he has created paintings from a “staycation” in Northern England and Scotland.

His main objective is to capture the atmosphere and spirit of a place. Ultimately, it is the mood and light within the painting that becomes the central theme.

Harry says: “My recent journey through the Lake District, Loch Lomond, Ben Nevis, Cairngorms, the Scottish Highlands, and the Outer Hebrides although many hundreds of miles long, was a constant source of inspiration for my upcoming exhibition. The changing landscape and unpredictable UK climate provided moments where the weather seemed to shift almost seamlessly between seasons in what felt like minutes.”

“I witnessed moments of both tranquility and breath-taking drama of our delightful and enchanting environment and wilderness. I am so grateful to be surrounded by landscapes and seascapes that sometimes overwhelm me with inspiration and the passion to paint.”

In 1986 British artist Gerald Green relinquished his career as an architect to follow his passion for painting. His work has been shown in Europe, USA and in 2010 he was an invited artist for the inaugural International Watercolour Biennial in China. 

His paintings are impressions of places and events from everyday life. Many are painted en plein air and are essentially personal responses to what he sees. His approach is to interpret the essence of the subjects with an almost casual reality and light is the essential ingredient that he uses to energise and invigorate his work.

He says: “Whilst the 19 paintings I have in this exhibition are diverse in subject matter, they are all the result of 'chance encounters’. My approach is to try not to look for things specifically but to allow myself to find them. Whether or not something is ordinary or everyday, has little bearing on its potential and excitement as subject matter.”

Paintings include visions of Venice, Paris cafes and London street scenes, with an assortment of interiors alongside garden settings and more intimate studies of everyday life. The majority were produced as studio paintings away from the subject, based on sketches and other reference material. 

John Lines was born in 1938 in Rugby, Warwickshire and studied art at Rugby Polytechnic and York School of Art. His style is very much Modern British and John prefers painting in oil and watercolours. His art captures humour, nostalgia, romance and the beauty of the British countryside and unusually British urban life.

John says: “I am mainly a painter who works on the spot in front of the subject, and finish there and then, which means facing weather of every kind but this gives me an air of emergency which I hope is transmitted through to my work.”

“I find great pleasure and inspiration in working amongst people all over the world, their homes and surroundings, and also the pure wonder of the British countryside that is close to my heart. My working methods are the same as when I first started, using a simple colour arrangement. I’ve always been told to keep it simple, and so I have done!”