The four British artists in this exhibition are primarily concerned with the four elements that feature in its title.
The four artists in this exhibition are primarily concerned with the four elements that feature in its title. While living in a land-locked location in the Derbyshire Dales, Andrew Bird takes his inspiration from landscape elements such as upland moors, the weather, shifting light, as well as the coastline. Perhaps the most abstract painter in this group, Andrew has developed a highly sophisticated and recognisable style, as well as building a considerable exhibition record with noted galleries dating back to 2012.
Neil Canning has strongly identified himself as an artist working in the St Ives tradition and has lived on the Cornish Peninsula since 1997; in that year his work was included in Art Now Cornwall at Tate St Ives. A highly gestural painter, Canning creates both large scale paintings in his purpose-built studio and smaller works on paper. He is deeply inspired by the weather and rugged Cornwall coastline, to the extent that many of his paintings can be said to be 'full of ozone'. In 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Exeter for an 'outstanding contribution to contemporary British Art'.
Jo Rizatto, the most representational artist of this group, lives near Manningtree and has become truly inspired by coastal and estuary landscapes of the rivers Stour and Alde. A region full of fresh air, her home is also on the edge of 'Constable country'. Originally working in the world of textiles, Rizatto has made remarkable strides in developing an original approach to landscape painting, displaying highly grounded draftsmanship combining a great understanding of atmospheric perspective. Her paintings are delightfully fresh and distinctive.
Andrew Watt, like Bird, lives in a land-locked location, in this case Cheltenham, where he taught art at Cheltenham Ladies College for nearly 25 years. In Watt's case, the Wye Valley is a strong draw, as well as the north Devon and Cornish coastlines, with many vistas in between. Most of Watt's compositional ideas come while he is out walking. Early influences in his work come from his studies at Winchester School of Art, where he was taught by distinguished abstract painters, Gillian Ayres OBE RA and Clyde Hopkins.