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As an artist, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the landscapes around me, from the rolling moors of my childhood in England to the rugged coastlines of the Jurassic Coast. But it wasn’t until I began exploring abstractism in landscape art that I truly found my voice. For me, art has never been just about representing what I see; it’s about capturing what I feel — the spirit of a place, the energy of the land, and the profound connection that binds us to nature.
The Role of Abstractism in My Work
I define myself as a semi-abstract landscape artist, which means my work walks the line between the recognisable and the abstract. Abstractism allows me to break free from the constraints of realism and focus on evoking the emotions and atmospheres that these landscapes inspire. My work is less about the fine details of a mountain or coastline, and more about capturing the essence of these places—their boldness, their organic shapes, their inherent magick.
Using acrylics as my primary medium, I often work on circular canvases, which reflect the cyclical nature of the Earth and our relationship with it. Through sweeping brushstrokes and bold colour choices, I build layers of texture that represent not just the physical layers of the landscape, but the emotional and spiritual depths as well. These textural elements are crucial in my work because they bring out the raw, dynamic energy I seek to convey—the way the wind moves across a hillside or the rhythmic pulse of ocean waves crashing against the shore.
Abstractism gives me the freedom to translate these experiences into a visual language that speaks to something deeper. It’s not about creating a perfect representation of a scene but about evoking the emotions that the scene stirs within me. For example, when I paint the wild sea near the Jurassic Coast, the forms I use might not resemble literal waves, but through colour, texture, and form, I seek to capture the sense of power and mystery that the sea holds.
The Influence of Nature and “Magick”
The natural world has always been a profound source of inspiration for me. Growing up surrounded by vast moors and wild seas, I became attuned to the spiritual energy that these places hold. In my adult life, living in the rural forests of Wales, this connection has only deepened. Here, I’ve embraced a holistic approach to my work that blends the physical process of painting with the spiritual practice of honouring nature’s magick.
For me, magick is about aligning myself with the natural world’s rhythms, tapping into its hidden energies, and using that connection to inform my creative process. Before beginning a new painting, I engage in rituals that set the intention for the work. This might involve cleansing my studio with incense, laying out crystals that resonate with the energy of the landscape I’m portraying, or even using moon water to thin my paints. These rituals are more than symbolic; they help me create a space where creativity and nature intersect, allowing the painting to become an expression of both the physical and spiritual aspects of the land.
My fascination with the layered, transformative qualities of the landscape often finds its way into the final piece, creating works that feel alive and dynamic. Whether it’s the flow of colour across the canvas or the textural build-up of paint, I want each painting to feel like it’s in motion, constantly shifting and changing—just like the landscapes that inspire them.
Why Abstractism Resonates
One of the most rewarding aspects of working in semi-abstract landscape art is the way it invites viewers to engage with the work on a personal level. Because the forms and shapes are not strictly literal, each person can bring their own experiences and emotions into their interpretation of the piece. In a sense, the abstraction creates a dialogue between the artist, the artwork, and the viewer, allowing the piece to take on a new life with every interaction.
This is especially true of my circular works, where the lack of a defined “top” or “bottom” further encourages viewers to explore the painting from different perspectives, each offering a new way to experience the scene. The round format mirrors the cycles found in nature — the rise and fall of the tides, the phases of the moon, the seasons — and creates a visual flow that draws the viewer in, encouraging them to lose themselves in the landscape’s rhythms.
Abstractism also allows me to challenge traditional notions of landscape painting. By focusing on color, shape, and texture rather than specific details, I’m able to explore the land’s raw, elemental qualities. The boldness of this approach mirrors the landscapes themselves—wild, untamed, and full of life. Whether it’s the ferocity of the sea or the quiet stillness of a forest, I want my work to reflect not just what nature looks like, but what it feels like to be in its presence.
My Creative Process
In the studio, my process is intuitive and often begins with a strong emotional response to a particular place or moment in nature. I don’t plan my paintings in advance; instead, I let the landscape guide me, responding to the energy I feel in the moment. Layers of paint are built up, then scraped back, creating depth and texture that mirror the complexity of the land itself. The physicality of this process is important to me; I want to feel the painting taking shape beneath my hands, to be as much a part of the work as the landscape that inspired it.
Through this approach, each painting becomes a journey — a way of exploring not just the external world, but the internal one as well. The abstraction allows me to express emotions that might otherwise be difficult to put into words, while still remaining grounded in the natural world that inspires me.
Bringing It All Together
Abstract landscape art, for me, is about finding balance between representation and emotion, between the seen and the unseen. It’s a way of celebrating the beauty and power of the natural world while also acknowledging the deeper, spiritual connection we all have to it. By focusing on colour, texture, and form rather than strict realism, I can create works that invite viewers to not only see the landscape but to feel it on a deeper level.