Paul Bowring

Paul Bowring graduated from Derby University in 1998 with a degree in Fine Art. He now lives and works in Nottingham.

Paul works mainly with acrylic paint on canvas. His paintings often depict shadowy forms in derelict, subterranean and urban locations, sometimes dream-like and otherworldly, but often foreboding and unsettling.

Paul prefers to work directly on the canvas rather than pre-plan the image, this allows his work to evolve on the canvas. He utilises the figurative elements or structures that emerge in the paint and enhances the strongest ones with highlights and shadows. Everything else is reworked with a palette knife, by scraping away and building up again, until a coherent structure emerges. Sometimes a strong composition emerges quickly, but often a painting goes through numerous transformations before a gratifying result is achieved. Combined with a reduced colour range this method can give rise to intriguing and unusual compositions.

Paul's work tends to have recurring motifs, such as arches, doorways and stairs, these are often combined with dark, shadowy figures. His intention is to allow the viewer to create their own interpretation of the events that may be unfolding.

Paul is one of the three founders of the Danse Macabre annual exhibition.

Website: www.thepaintdistresser.com

Contact: paulbowring@thepaintdistresser.com