Artist, photographer and Pewsey resident, Ben Phillips, is holding a first solo exhibition of his landscape paintings at the ‘MADE in the Pewsey Vale’ gallery in Pewsey High Street from 7th March to 15th (10am to 4pm). Entitled Available Light and exploring the effect of light on the landscape, many of the paintings celebrate local scenes.
Ben told Marlborough.news, “Living where we live is a constant inspiration. I’m very grateful to live in such a beautiful part of the world with such a varied and stunning landscape.”
Ben is an accomplished and successful photographer and has an MA in Photojournalism from the London College of Printing. He began his career as a photojournalist before moving into commercial photography. For over twenty years Ben has worked for some of the world’s best-known brands on shoots across six continents. He has also, for many years, been the official photographer for Marlborough LitFest.
However, when the pandemic arrived his commercial photography was rendered impossible. With time on his hands, Ben bought some brushes and paint and started experimenting. “It was partly to keep sane and because I needed a creative outlet.”
He began painting landscapes near his home in Pewsey and found his photographer’s eye for composition and light translated into his paintings, hence the name of the exhibition – Available Light.
Ben commented, “My hope for a painting is for it to hold someone’s attention, if only for a few moments, creating an intangible connection between the viewer and the canvas. It is then that I consider the painting to be a success.”
“My continued love of photography unquestionably helps to inform and improve my painting. To my surprise and delight I’ve discovered that the same is true in reverse.”
“I am very excited, if a little nervous, about the exhibition but I am really looking forward to it. I am grateful to the founders of MADE in the Pewsey Vale – Alex Bramall(photographer), Kira Torrens-Spence (who offers art courses in the Old Dairy Studio, Pewsey) and Catriona Tyrwhitt (painter and illustrator) for giving me the impetus to create this exhibition.”
All of Ben’s paintings in the exhibition are for sale. For more information visit Ben’s website here or email him on mail@benphillipspainting.com
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