Barry Hilton

Born in Manchester in 1941.

Formal training in design – he achieved a first class B.A.(hons) degree.

Moved to Cornwall in 1979, meeting and working alongside a group of extremely active artists which led to considerable development of his artistic abilities.

Continues to develop his style and technique and has become one of the nation’s most impressive artists.

Acclaimed for his atmospheric pieces featuring stormy skies and juxtaposing contrasting textures in a painterly and sometimes surprising way. More recently has sometimes used a muted palette and more urban subject matter.

He has recently built a studio which he has kitted out to his very specific requirements with north light tubes, which give ‘white’ light as opposed to ‘fluorescent’ light, thus allowing him to be completely true to his creative vision.

His greatest source of inspiration is the moorland around his home in the north of England.

Expresses emotion and atmosphere with the use of intense colours and dramatic textural juxtapositions.

Builds up each composition in layers to give a remarkable, almost ethereal feeling of depth and intensity and that connects with the emotions of the viewer.

His smooth, finely painted skies contrast with the heavy impasto techniques of the land as it appears in his highly coloured, painterly foreground.

Mesmerising quality and subtle lighting.

Effective juxtaposition of differing shades defines each scene to stunning effect, especially when the light falls on to the heavy layer of paint which in turn scatters the light in many directions.

The work does not duplicate the actual colours of the landscape, but rather conveys the creative imagination of a genuine and artistic talent.

Barry says: “I spend a lot of time in the countryside and I can remember when rapeseed came in and I saw a field of incredible yellow flowers against a black, stormy sky. I’ve never lost that image and the concept really infiltrated my imagination. This contrast between light and dark, calm and storm, is absolutely central to every piece I paint.”