I am a professional artist and I have exhibited extensively and my paintings are in collections both nationally and internationally and I have undertaken prestigious commissions . I have also won many awards for my oil paintings, and I was also awarded a diploma with a high distinction for painting and drawing from the London college of art. My preferred medium is oil but I also like to use soft pastel and also graphite. I am well known for my seascape paintings along with my country landscap

Jonathan was born in Derbyshire in 1961 and continues to live in Matlock Bath to this day. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship as a plumber before joining his father in a picture framing business ~ Peakland Arts. It was during this time that his interest in painting was kindled and he started to paint, initially in watercolours and acrylics and by now almost exclusively in oils. After several exhibitions, his work is in collections in the USA, Australia and Europe, as well as the

GEOFF WAS BORN AT DENBY, DERBYSHIRE, BUT HAS LIVED AT HEAGE FOR MOST OF HIS LIFE. GEOFF WORKED AS A FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR MOST OF HIS WORKING LIFE AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL MID-LIFE THAT HE BEGAN HIS ADVENTURE IN ART. HE HAS ALWAYS APPRECIATED THE BEAUTY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND HE ENJOYS WALKING IN DERBYSHIRE. HIS PAINTINGS ARE INSPIRED BY WHAT HE SEES AROUND HIM AND HE WORKS IN OILS AND SOFT PASTELS. HIS PRIZE WINNING PAINTING STYLE HAS A LIFE-LIKE REALISM TEMPERED WITH A PAINTERLY APPROACH.

I choose to paint in an abstract way as I find this method of painting gives me maximum freedom to explore ideas, enjoy the playful qualities of paint and have access to an abundance of colour and pattern. I find painting is a joyful process (most of the time!) and a celebration of subject matter, which can be taken for granted and no longer ‘seen’. It is also about exploring the ambiguity in life, allowing the mind to open and not always having to apply a label to what exists. The way I paint

I am a self-taught artist and have been painting and drawing all of my life. I feel painting is like a journey; you never know where it will take you or what you will get at the end. I have explored and experimented with many different styles and mediums over the years and found that acrylics give me what I need as they are so versatile. In the ‘journey through space', I was inspired by my love of colours and I’ve used their vibrancy to add to the fascination of other worlds, planets, beings

Valerie is a multi talented artist who changes between illuminations, calligraphy to oil painted landscapes and portraits. Valerie has been an artist for over 60 years and has exhibited. After raising her family and working as a dressmaker, she retired and then achieved a BA Hons in illustration. Since graduating she had commissions and was even commissioned to work on the EMMY Award winning 'Elizabeth I' starring Helen Mirren where she produced calligraphy and graphics for the HBO Drama.

Kevin's work specialises in black and white acrylic portraits of old peoples faces and human figures. Very atmospheric work. A brilliant emerging artist and lucky to have him exhibiting in the show this coming April!

Jack creates mixed media artworks, paintings and drawings. By questioning the concept of movement, Halford creates intense personal moments masterfully created by means of rules and omissions, acceptance and refusal, luring the viewer round and round in circles (or whatever shape really). His mixed media artworks demonstrate how life extends beyond its own subjective limits and often tells a story about the effects of global cultural interaction over the latter half of the twentieth century.

A little about myself Until 4 years ago, I had been working in the film industry for the last 10 years as an Art Director at Pinewood Studios and Elstree Studios, doing concept art designing etc. Previous work includes 'Kick Ass','Xmen: First Class','Revolver','Alexander', 'Nanny McPhee', 'Elizabeth' (HBO Special), 'Exam' and 'Johnny English Reborn'. (See IMDB) I love painting and films and I try to combine the two things in my paintings to create cinematic landscapes and scenes.