News — Inspiration

The gaps engineer breathing spaces in the painting that encourage an additional dialogue within and around the work. Whilst the three-dimensional planes of the plates engender an alternative viewpoint, the ceramic forms deliver shadows and highlights creating intriguing faceted elements that change with the light. Embracing the Japanese concept of Ma, where each negative space is as valuable as the positive, each void adds meaning, balance and rhythm to the painting.

The concept for the painting is developed and then the lengthy process of sourcing the exact combination of antique ceramics to build the platescape is commenced. It is not only the shape and size that matters, but also the clay, the age, wear and marks.  Decoration, colour and subject are also key, as all contribute to the success of the composition. Each element is well researched before the final painting is planned.

The language of the old cloth is harnessed to enhance the pictorial narrative. By using the characteristics of antique material as a canvas, it becomes a contributing value to the work. The ancient hand woven cloth, with its attractive vagaries of the hand made process, is extolled in each celebration of the selvedge, hem, join or seam. Antique embroidery, cutwork and lace are employed in some paintings, where this extra attribute is appropriate and prized.

The pattern on the original plates is fundamental to the concept behind the work. Whether traditional bucolic scenes in Toile de Jouy style or massed florals, the aim is to guide the subject matter and enhance the final composition. From a distance the overall effect is harmonious, but on close inspection the miniature details are revealed. The manipulation of scale adds further depth to the engagement.

Creating art with a multi-layered ambition has always been a preoccupation. In 'Breathing Space' I have found a challenging format that embraces my passion for both painting and form.  The platescapes add a 3D perspective that bridges the gap between painting and sculpture.

Blue Vase

An original still life oil painting on a collection of 7 pieces of antique china.  The painting features preserved eucalyptus leaves and dried craspedia flowers in a blue vase with an orange and lemon, becomes disjointed and yet enhanced, as the narrative is rewritten in the breathing spaces.

Materials:

Ceramics

7 pieces of antique crockery

• Pair of antique Booths tureen plates in the Princess pattern. Semi porcelain Rd. 183173. 
• Victorian tureen plate no.186329
• Antique tureen semi-porcelain plate no.345664
• Booths 1906 moon side plate in Lowestoft Border design
• 1886 saucer Pre Shelley Old Foley Rd. no. 49676 (3645)
• Victorian Childs doll house plate with willow pattern

Cloth

Old linen tea cloth - hem used to suggest a frame

Paints

Michael Harding UK: professional hand made, ethical oil paints.

Hanging
Each part of the painting is supplied with a plate hanger.

A life size plan, showing the exact location for hanging each composite piece, is provided.

Dimensions of composite painting: height 63cm x width 56cm

Fishing

An original oil painting on a collection of 4 pieces of vintage china.  The painting features freshwater fish swimming in a golden pool of light where the breathing spaces add another layer of disjuncture. The narrative is enhanced with the bucolic scenes of fishermen on the vintage plates.

This artwork was launched at The Gallery, 23 Lees Yard, Holt NR25 6HS in the Fired Earth exhibition 31st October – 10th November 2026.

Materials:

Ceramics

4 pieces of vintage crockery

• 1930-40 Royal Doulton 'Norfolk' dinner plate
• 1950-60 Crown Ducal 'Bridge Scenes' dinner plate
• Vintage Alfred Meakin 'Queens Castle' oval serving platter 
• Vintage dinner plate

Cloth

1800s French peasant flax cloth - grown, spun and hand woven by rural folk - hand stitched hem used to suggest a frame

Paints

Michael Harding UK: professional hand made, ethical oil paints.

Hanging
Each part of the painting is supplied with a plate hanger.  A life size plan, showing the exact location for hanging each composite piece, is provided.

Dimensions of composite painting: height 71cm x width 61cm

 A simple story of a painting.

Sometimes it’s the simple pleasures of living in this beautiful county that bring a lingering smile, such as looking forward to the casual, yet dynamic blooming of the wild poppies in June. The impact can be just a single lost flower or the invasion of a whole field swathed in red.

 But usually it’s a graceful lacing of the field edges - red heads of delicate crepe paper petals bobbing in the breeze.

This June on a winding lane from Edgefield, near Holt, there was a particularly wonderful field of poppies - so inspiring I had to paint the view.

Drawing Conclusions

To re-tread footprints on a favourite walk, where sky and sea and earth meet and buffer, is a treat even on a windy, grey January day. The North Norfolk coastline is a sanctuary to wildlife and people – an ethereal interface that inspires and nurtures.

We surrender to the elements - embrace the gash of wind and rain and hear the roar of tide and turn.

See 37 seconds of a panoramic video of the windy walk at Cley.

What inspires artists to capture something - a stimulus that sparks an exhilarating ignition to respond. The stark winter landscapes of North Norfolk, with their strong graphic qualities, contrive a creative approach where the editing out of features is as much the artistic remit as what one includes. This challenging duality delivers sparse vistas with intricate detailing in the forms.

The Land Song Collection has emerged organically from the seasonal study of the East Anglian countryside and coastline. It aims to reflect the quiet song where a rhythmic beauty is broken by staccato: tree, farm and village. The drawings are direct responses to actual sites that can be visited through the name or grid references supplied with each print. The Collection will continue to evolve and expand as the sky’s envelope opens.

Cley Windmill

The ghost of the mill sails turn to the rhythm of the historic wind.

Burnham Norton

In Burnham Norton, marshes wrap and ooze watery ribbons of grey sky. Reeds form natural weather vanes swaying in the breeze whilst beyond the edge, where watery and aerial worlds collide: creatures dance in the interface embracing the fluctuating borders of their habitat.