Darren Woodhead presents work which he has created over the past two years. Working along the coast and river, and in the fields of East Lothian which is his home ground, Darren observes the birds, insects and landscapes of this stretch of countryside.
Darren lives in Haddington with his wife and three children and is often seen wandering the countryside.
Darren is a pure field painter. He stands in the landscape, immersed in the natural world he depicts, and works from direct observation in brush and watercolour. There is no studio. He observes and reacts in the moment to the sight of a bird or the fluttering of butterflies. To produce such joyful and seemingly effortless work relies on consummate skill as a painter and as a naturalist.
Julian Spalding, writer and former museum director, is in no doubt: ‘…few artists alive today have such skills at their fingertips, and not many have had in the past. This is what makes his achievement so exceptional and his paintings so full of life and light. And the extraordinary thing is that this light is nothing more than plain white paper’.
Walking through the exhibition, as if walking by Darren’s side, you will recognise the Sparrow resting in the sun and even hear the trill of Curlews in the distance.
About the SOC: The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club is charity promoting the study of birds in Scotland. It hosts a programme of talks, discussions and outings for its members and the general public.About Waterston House: Waterston House is fully accessible and houses a resource centre for bird-watching including a shop, the largest ornithological reference library in Scotland and an art gallery dedicated to wildlife art.
Darren Woodhead, ‘New Work’
22 November 2019 – 15 January 2020
The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC)
Waterston House, Aberlady, East Lothian, EH32 0PY Open Daily: 10.00am to 4.00pm (closed 25 & 26 Dec and 1st Jan)
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